After a poor series at home against England and two winless tours of New Zealand and Australia, Sri Lanka flew to South Africa.
There was a lot of talk about it being pretty harsh on an inexperienced side to face three difficult tours back-to-back – and that too in the span of four months.
Nobody really gave Sri Lanka an iota of chance of winning a Test match here in South Africa, let alone the series.
With the record, recent form and everything in the world stacked against this Sri Lankan side, they went on to do something that no other Asian side (not even India or Pakistan) had ever done.
In fact, it was something that only two other teams had achieved before.
Sri Lanka defied all odds as they pulled off one of the biggest heists in Test cricket history. They registered a 2-0 series win over South Africa as they became the first-ever Asian side to win a Test series in South Africa.
Before today, only Australia and England had won Test series’ in South Africa. It just underlines the fact that it’s not easy to tour the Rainbow Nation and go there and win a Test series.
Also, the last time South Africa lost a Test series at home was in 2015-16 when England won the series 2-1. On the other hand, Sri Lanka were thrashed by England at home first before they got another pasting in Australia as they lost six out of their last seven Tests (with one Test ending in a draw in New Zealand).
Remember, just ahead of this Test series, Dinesh Chandimal was sacked as the captain of this Test team and was also dropped.
Lots of chopping and changing, fast bowlers getting injured left, right and centre. Then there was the injury of their best player, Angelo Mathews.
Nothing, absolutely nothing went right for the Lankans in the lead up to this Test series.
However, under a new skipper (Dimuth Karunaratne), Sri Lanka fought like there was no tomorrow.
After meekly surrendering in Australia, Sri Lanka picked themselves up and roared, maybe pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the history of Test cricket.
It was Kusal Perera in the first Test who led the charge. He struck a fine fifty in the first innings but he had a bigger, a better and a Test match-defying knock in store for the second innings.
He struck a phenomenal 153 taking Sri Lanka home from a near-impossible situation. 78 runs were needed when No. 11 Vishwa Fernando walked out to bat but Fernando fought like a soldier while Perera took charge and defied cricketing logic as he took the visitors over the line in what was a heist.
Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne hits a shot. (AAP Image/David Gray)
Just like the first Test, they started well as they bowled really well to bowl the Proteas out for 222. But batting failed as they were shot out for 154.
However, an inspired bowling attack blew away the hosts for 128 and chased down 197 to create history in the Rainbow nation.
They conceded the lead in both games but didn’t lose hope. They battled it out and despite being in perilously bad positions, they found a way to survive.
Players put their hands up and delivered in crunch situations. Vishwa Fernando was the star with the ball as he picked up 12 wickets. He was ably supported by Kasun Rajitha and the experienced Suranga Lakmal.
Lasith Embuldeniya did well on debut as well. Dhananjaya de Silva filled in really well as a spinner after Embuldeniya dislocated his thumb in the second Test.
Kusal Perera was brilliant in that first Test in Durban and the more you write on that knock, the lesser it is. Oshada Fernando was excellent on debut as well as he scored 131 runs in the series and fought hard.
The series might just prove to be the coming of age for this Sri Lankan side. The youngsters stepped up beautifully. This was certainly one of the age-defying results in the history of Test cricket.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Does anyone know if MTV Fernando and BOP Fernando are related? Just curious, my research hasn't uncovered a connection.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
South African batting line-up has weakened considerably after the retirement of A.B.DeVilliers and poor form of Hashim Amla for a long time. But Sri Lanka's Series win was unbelievable.
Raimond
Roar Guru
Perera's hundred probably in the top 10 batting performances in Test history.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You'd prefer us to lose?
George
Guest
Under Elite Coach? Hilarious.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Good point, although the latter three haven’t come close in SA since readmission, in which time there have been a lot more Tests, while Australia and England have won several. Striking that Australia have won 5 series in SA in that time, during which SA have been consistently strong, while at the same time SA has been the only country with a lot of success in Australia, winning three series and drawing one. The next best, England and India, have won only one series each with no draws. (Of course SA only plays 3 Test series in Aus).
Targa
Guest
That first sentence should say: "ENGLAND beating Sri Lanka in SL..."
Targa
Guest
NZ drew a series over there 2-2 in the 60s, but we've never won a series in South Africa (or in India). India, Pakistan and the West Indies never toured to South Africa prior to readmission
Targa
Guest
India beating Sri Lanka in SL was a bigger upset than us (NZ) beating Pakistan in the UAE. We drew with a much stronger Pakistani side with Younis Khan and Misbah in the UAE in 2014
Targa
Guest
Well done Sri Lanka. What an amazing result. With that result NZ has now moved to number 2 in the test rankings. Nice work lads!
Savage
Roar Rookie
It's an understatement to say that Perera knock is one of the greatest of all time.It is not only an upset but one of the greatest series win of all time.Sri Lanka are only the 3rd team after Australia and England to ever win Test series in South Africa.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
I think more to the point, they beat a good South African team. Not a poor or average team a good one. Possibly the best bowling line up in test cricket and a batting line up full of experienced players playing at home. Phenomenal effort Sri Lanka!!!!!!
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Possibly the greatest upset of all time, shading India in England 1971, West Indies in England 1950, and New Zealand beating West Indies in NZ (helped by abysmal home umpiring) in 1980. Interesting comment “Before today, only Australia and England had won Test series’ in South Africa”. In fact, England has beaten SA in SA 11 times (8 before 1950, 5 before 1914) and Australia has won 10 series in South Africa (5 times since 1994, easily the most successful visitors in that sense). So a big gap between those two and the rest.
Felix Sirimanne
Roar Rookie
FINALLY "The MOUSE ROARED"!!!!! WELL DONE the Team!!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
In retrospect…by Ashes time…I think you will realize that you have been witnessing a coaching and man-management masterclass. There have been big changes and massive improvement already with so much room for further development. Come for the ride. It has only just begun.
Paul
Roar Guru
no
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You don't think the Aussies already demonstrated these qualities by very comfortably disposing of this same team?
Paul
Roar Guru
That was one of the best team efforts I think I've ever seen. Lots of very good bowling, some terrific individual batting efforts and clearly a great belief they could get across the line, even though the last 12 months for Sri Lankan Test cricket had been less than stellar. There are plenty of lessons the Australian team can take from this result as they plan for the Ashes; work together as a team, making sure your bowling plans work for the conditions and stick to them, never think a game's out of reach and don't be intimidated by the difficulty of the task.
matth
Roar Guru
What a fanstiastic effort by Sri Lanka. Maybe the biggest cricketing upset of all time, but then I remember the West Indies beat England last month and NZ recently beat Pakistan in the UAE. What a great year for test cricket.