On the 290th ball of his innings, Khawaja reached the 200-run milestone. He has hit 16 fours and one six for the Steve Smith-led team at Galle International Stadium thus far.
The first Australian cricketer to record a double century in a Test match played in Sri Lanka was Usman Khawaja, the star opening batsman, who made history on Thursday, January 30. The left-handed batsman, 38, accomplished the feat in the morning session of the second day of play in the inaugural Australia-Sri Lanka Test match that is currently taking place in Galle.
In Australia’s first innings, Khawaja reached the 200-run milestone with a single off the first delivery of the 111th over. Khawaja has already hit 16 fours and one six, and on the 290th ball of his innings, he earned his 200th run.Chris Gayle holds the record for the most runs scored by an opposition hitter in an innings during a Test match played in Sri Lanka. In a Test match held in Galle from November 15 to 19, 2010, the former captain of the West Indies made 333 runs from 437 balls against the Islanders.
Highest Test score by an overseas batter in Sri Lanka
Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 333 in Galle, 2010
Stephen Fleming (New Zealand) – 274* in Colombo (PSS), 2003
Joe Root (England) – 228 in Galle, 2021
Brian Lara (West Indies) – 221 in Colombo (SSC), 2001
Saud Shakeel (Pakistan) – 208* in Galle, 2023
Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 203 in Colombo (SSC), 2010
Virender Sehwag (India) – 201* in Galle, 2008
Abdullah Shafique (Pakistan) – 201 in Colombo (SSC), 2023
Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh) – 200 in Galle, 2013
Usman Khawaja (Australia) – 200* in Galle, 2025*
Prior to Khawaja’s double century on Thursday, Justin Langer’s 166 was the highest Test score ever recorded by an Australian batsman in Sri Lanka. When the Test match took place in Colombo (SSC) from March 24 to 28, 2004, the former Australian opener and head coach had amassed 166 runs from 295 balls versus Sri Lanka.
In a Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka, Khawaja would surpass Dinesh Chandimal’s record for most runs scored in an innings if he could score at least seven more. When Australia and Sri Lanka played a Test match in Galle in July 2022, Chandimal hit an undefeated 206 runs from 326 balls for Sri Lanka.
