Sri Lanka created a niche, unwanted record during the first Test against Australia in Galle on Thursday (January 30).
Khawaja, Smith, Inglis centuries lead Australia to record total
After choosing to bat first, Australia had ended day one at a score of 330-2, with Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith at the wicket, on 147 and 104 respectively.
The pair took their side to 400, before Smith fell for 141 five balls later – lbw to Jeffrey Vandersay after Sri Lanka reviewed a not out call – something they'd failed to do twice yesterday, costing them dearly.
Khawaja went on to become Australia's second-oldest double centurion, after Don Bradman, and debutant Josh Inglis then slammed a 90-ball century as the visitors batted well into the third session. They eventually declared at 654-6, their highest-ever total in Asia.
Match 1st Test, Sri Lanka vs Australia
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Sri Lanka set unique world record against Australia
Despite bowling for almost two whole days, Sri Lanka used just four bowlers in the entire innings. Seamer Asitha Fernando got the ball rolling on day one, and eventually bowled 15 of the 154 overs.
Off-spinner Nishan Peiris bowled 41 wicketless overs for 189, the sixth-worst figures in Test history while left-armer Prabath Jayasuriya and leggie Jeffrey Vandersay sent down 60 and 38 overs respectively, picking up three wickets each.
654 is the highest-ever first-class score conceded by a team which used just four bowlers. There have now been 36 instances of a four-bowler attack conceding over 450, and ten instances of them conceding over 500. This total is the only one above 550.
The previous record was 533, conceded by an Australian XI against South Africa in 1986-87. Graeme Pollock (144) and Ken McEwan (138) scored centuries on that occasion, against an attack of Rodney Hogg (39 overs), Terry Alderman (37), Rod McCurdy (40) and Trevor Hohns (51.2).
Highest first-class totals conceded by a four-bowler attack
Test matches in italics
| Total | Conceded by | Opposition | Venue | Season |
| 654 | Sri Lanka | Australia | Galle | 2024/25 |
| 533 | Australian XI | South Africa | Port Elizabeth | 1986/87 |
| 532 | Essex | Kent | Maidstone | 1950 |
| 528 | India | Australia | Adelaide | 1980/81 |
| 518 | Lahore City | National Bank of Pakistan | Lahore | 1999/00 |
| 516 | Pakistan | India | Mohali | 2004/05 |
| 513 | Islamabad | Lahore City | Lahore | 1995/96 |
| 510 | Essex | Lancashire | Clacton-on-Sea | 1947 |
| 500 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Lahore | 1981/82 |
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