Sri Lanka and Bangladesh may not be the newest names in international cricket, but their evolving rivalry is captivating fans worldwide. Once a cricketing powerhouse, Sri Lanka reigned supreme from the late 19th century through the early 2000s, while Bangladesh has steadily improved since the establishment of the Bangladesh Cricket Board in 1996. Today, from dramatic moments like the “Nagin Dance” in the Nidahas Trophy to contentious incidents in the ODI WC 2023, every encounter between these two nations adds a new chapter to their unfolding story.
In this article, we dive deep into the head-to-head records, ICC event performances, and detailed statistics across Tests, ODIs, and T20s. We also highlight individual records and share recent developments that are shaping this exciting rivalry.
The overall head-to-head record between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in international cricket is as follows:
Format
Matches
Sri Lanka Won
Bangladesh Won
Draw/Tie
TEST
26
20
1
5
ODI
57
43
12
2
T20
17
11
6
0
Total
100
74
19
7
ICC Events Performance
In ICC tournaments, the clash has produced its share of memorable moments:
Event
Matches
Sri Lanka Won
Bangladesh Won
Draw/Tie
ODI WC
5
3
1
1
T20 WC
3
2
1
0
Total
8
5
2
1
Test Match Stats
Test Team Performances
Highest Team Scores
Team
Score
Opposition
Ground
Sri Lanka
730/6d
vs Bangladesh
Mirpur
Sri Lanka
713/9d
vs Bangladesh
Chattogram
Sri Lanka
648/8d
vs Bangladesh
Pallekele
Bangladesh
638
vs Sri Lanka
Galle
Sri Lanka
587
vs Bangladesh
Chattogram
Lowest Team Scores
Team
Score
Opposition
Ground
Bangladesh
62
vs Sri Lanka
Colombo
Bangladesh
86
vs Sri Lanka
Colombo
Bangladesh
89
vs Sri Lanka
Colombo
Bangladesh
90
vs Sri Lanka
Colombo
Bangladesh
110
vs Sri Lanka
Mirpur
Test Batting Records
Player
Innings
Runs
Highest Score
Kumar Sangakara
21
1816
319
Mushfiqur Rahim
30
1346
200
Mahela Jayawardene
17
1146
203*
Dimuth Karunaratne
14
1141
244
Md. Asraful
13
1090
190
Test Highest Average
Player
Innings
Runs
Highest Average
Aravinda de Silva
1
206
206.00
Chamara Kapugedera
2
155
155.00
Kamindu Mendis
4
367
122.30
Roshen Shilva
3
235
117.50
Naveed Nawaz
2
99
99.00
Test Bowling Records
Player
Innings
Wickets
Best Figures
Muthiah Muralidaran
22
89
6/18
Rangna Herath
20
50
7/89
Shakib-Al-Hasan
18
42
5/70
Taijul Islam
16
30
5/72
Dilhara Fernando
15
28
5/60
Test Best Economy Rates
Player
Matches
Overs
Economy
Muthiah Muralidaran
11
452
2.63
Suranga Lakmal
9
249
2.81
Chaminda Vaas
7
167.2
2.92
Taijul Islam
9
444.5
2.98
Rangna Herath
10
412.2
3.00
ODI Stats
ODI Team Performances
Highest Team Scores
Team
Score
Opposition
Ground
Sri Lanka
357/9
vs Bangladesh
Lahore
Sri Lanka
332/8
vs Bangladesh
Karachi
Sri Lanka
332/1
vs Bangladesh
Melbourne
Bangladesh
324/5
vs Sri Lanka
Dambulla
Bangladesh
320/7
vs Sri Lanka
Mirpur
Lowest Team Scores
Team
Score
Opposition
Ground
Bangladesh
76
vs Sri Lanka
Colombo
Bangladesh
82
vs Sri Lanka
Mirpur
Bangladesh
108
vs Sri Lanka
Colombo
Bangladesh
112
vs Bangladesh
Port of Spain
Bangladesh
118/8
vs Sri Lanka
Dhaka
ODI Batting Records
Player
Innings
Runs
Highest Score
Mushfiqur Rahim
37
1207
144
Kumar Sangakara
28
1026
128
Sanath Jayasuriya
21
1030
130
Upul Tharanga
22
906
118*
Tilakratne Dilshan
21
859
161*
ODI Highest Average
Player
Innings
Runs
Highest Average
Avishka Gunawardene
2
116
116.00
Arjun Ranatunga
4
227
113.50
Marvan Atapattu
9
452
90.40
Janith Liyanage
3
177
88.50
Najmul Hussain Santo
5
342
88.50
ODI Bowling Records
Player
Innings
Wickets
Best Figures
Muthiah Muralidaran
17
31
5/31
Lasith Malinga
14
27
4/23
Mashrafe Mortaza
22
26
3/25
Mustfizur Rahman
14
23
3/16
Rubel Hossain
16
23
4/33
ODI Best Economy Rates
Player
Matches
Overs
Economy
Shakib-Al Hasan
9
227.2
4.59
Mashrafe Mortaza
14
184.5
5.22
(Min – 1000 balls)
T20 International Stats
T20 Team Performances
Highest Team Scores
Team
Score
Opposition
Ground
Bangladesh
215/5
vs Sri Lanka
Colombo
Sri Lanka
214/6
vs Bangladesh
Colombo
Sri Lanka
210/4
vs Bangladesh
Sylhet
Sri Lanka
206/3
vs Bangladesh
Sylhet
Bangladesh
203/8
vs Sri Lanka
Sylhet
Lowest Team Scores
Team
Score
Opposition
Ground
Bangladesh
83
vs Sri Lanka
Johannesburg
Bangladesh
120
vs Sri Lanka
Chattogram
Sri Lanka
123/7
vs Bangladesh
Chattogram
Sri Lanka
124/8
vs Bangladesh
Mirpur
Sri Lanka
124/9
vs Bangladesh
Dallas
T20 Batting Records
Player
Innings
Runs
Highest Score
Kusal Mendis
9
442
86
Mahmudullah
15
368
54
Kushal Perera
8
366
77
Mushfiqur Rahim
11
300
72*
Thisara Perera
10
239
58
T20 Best Strike Rate
Player
Innings
Runs
Strike Rate
Asitha Fernando
1
10
333.33
Shoriful Islam
2
8
200.00
Vikum Sanjaya
1
6
200.00
Isru Udana
1
7
175.00
Aftab Ahmed
1
18
163.63
T20 Bowling Records
Player
Innings
Wickets
Best Figures
Mustafizur Rahman
13
17
4/21
Shakib-Al Hasan
10
12
3/24
Lasith Malinga
6
11
3/20
Taskin Ahmed
8
10
2/24
Nuwan Thushara
2
9
5/20
T20 Best Economy In An Innings
Player
Economy
Mustafizur Rahman
8.83
(Min 250 balls)
Individual Records Across Formats
Test Matches – Individual Bests
Highest Runs in an Innings (Test)
Player
Runs
Kumar Sangakkara
319
Dimuth Karunaratne
244
Kumar Sangakkara
222*
Aravinda de Silva
206
Mahela Jayawardene
208*
Highest Wickets in an Innings (Test)
Player
Wickets
Rangna Herath
7/89
Muthiah Muralidharan
6/18
Muthiah Muralidharan
6/28
Muthiah Muralidharan
6/49
Asitha Fernando
6/51
ODIs – Individual Bests
Highest Runs in an Innings (ODI)
Player
Runs
Tilakratne Dilshan
161*
Mushfiqur Rahim
144
Sanath Jayasuriya
130
Kumar Sangakkara
128
Tamim Iqbal
127
Highest Wickets in an Innings (ODI)
Player
Wickets
Chaminda Vaas
6/25
Dushmantha Chameera
5/16
Muthiah Muralidharan
5/31
Abdur Razzak
5/62
Sanath Jayasuriya
4/14
T20s – Individual Bests
Highest Runs in an Innings (T20)
Player
Runs
Kushal Mendis
86
Charith Asalanka
80*
Sabbir Rahman
80
Kushal Perera
77
Kushal Perera
74
Highest Wickets in an Innings (T20)
Player
Wickets
Nuwan Thushara
5/20
Nuwan Thushara
4/18
Mustafizur Rahman
4/21
Mustafizur Rahman
3/17
Lasith Malinga
3/20
FAQs
What is the overall record in the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh rivalry? Out of 100 international matches, Sri Lanka has won 74, Bangladesh 19, with 7 matches ending as draws or ties.
How have the teams fared in ICC events? In ICC tournaments, Sri Lanka has won 5 matches while Bangladesh has claimed victory in 2, with 1 match ending in a tie.
What are the standout individual performances in Test cricket? Kumar Sangakkara’s 319 and Muthiah Muralidharan’s 6/18 figures remain legendary, showcasing the batting and bowling prowess that define the rivalry.
Who holds the ODI batting records? Tilakratne Dilshan’s 161* tops the charts, while Mushfiqur Rahim and Sanath Jayasuriya also feature prominently.
What is the full form of ODI? ODI stands for “One Day Internationals.”
Conclusion & Recent Developments
The evolving rivalry between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh is marked by a rich blend of history and emerging talent. Sri Lanka, with its illustrious past and record-setting performances, continues to dominate many facets of the game. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is rapidly closing the gap with remarkable improvements, new coaching strategies, and youthful exuberance on the field.
Recent fixtures have seen Bangladesh pushing hard in limited-overs cricket, hinting at a more competitive future. As both sides prepare for upcoming series in 2025, fans can expect more thrilling encounters, nail-biting finishes, and individual performances that add fresh chapters to this storied rivalry.
Stay tuned for further updates, expert analyses, and live coverage as the cricketing world watches this fascinating battle unfold.
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