Table of Contents
This rivalry started 40 years ago in a one-sided contest at Kandy. Sri Lanka were already a cricket powerhouse. Bangladesh were just learning how to play ODIs.
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Bangladesh national cricket team timeline tells a very different story today. 28 Tests, 60 ODIs, 22 T20Is. Sri Lanka still lead in every format, but Bangladesh have made it complicated, especially in white-ball cricket. And the last 3 years? The gap has closed faster than anyone predicted.
If you want every match, every head-to-head record, every top scorer and wicket-taker, every series result and ICC tournament meeting, this is the only page you need.
Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Bangladesh national cricket team timeline
The first meeting came on April 2, 1986. Asia Cup, Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy. Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets. Bangladesh were an associate nation at the time, still 14 years away from Test status. The result was no surprise.
What followed over the next 4 decades is the actual story.
| Year | Tournament/Series | Winner | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka | 7 wickets | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy |
| 1988 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka | 7 wickets | Colombo |
| 1990 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka | 9 wickets | Colombo |
| 1995 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka | 8 wickets | Sharjah |
| 1997 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka | 8 wickets | Colombo |
| 2000 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka | 7 wickets | Dhaka |
| 2001 | 1st Test (Asian Test Championship) | Sri Lanka | Inn & 137 runs | Colombo (SSC) |
| 2002 | Bilateral Test Series | Sri Lanka | 2-0 | Colombo |
| 2005 | Bilateral Test Series | Sri Lanka | 2-0 | Colombo |
| 2006 | Bilateral Test Series | Sri Lanka | 2-0 | Chittagong/Bogra |
| 2007 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Sri Lanka | 198 runs | Port of Spain |
| 2007 | 1st T20I (ICC World Twenty20) | Sri Lanka | 64 runs | Johannesburg |
| 2008 | Bilateral Test Series | Sri Lanka | 2-0 | Mirpur/Chittagong |
| 2009 | Bilateral Test Series | Sri Lanka | 2-0 | Sri Lanka |
| 2013 | Bilateral Test Series | Sri Lanka | 1-0 (1 draw) | Galle/Colombo |
| 2014 | Bilateral Test Series | Sri Lanka | 1-0 (1 draw) | Mirpur/Chittagong |
| 2015 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Sri Lanka | 92 runs | Melbourne |
| 2016 | Asia Cup (T20) | Bangladesh | 23 runs | Mirpur (BAN’s 1st T20I win) |
| 2017 | Bilateral Test Series | Bangladesh | 4 wickets | Colombo (BAN’s 1st Test win) |
| 2018 | Nidahas Trophy (T20) | Bangladesh | Won series | Colombo |
| 2021 | Bilateral ODI Series | Bangladesh | 2-1 | Dhaka (BAN’s 1st ODI series win) |
| 2022 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka | 2 wickets | Dubai |
| 2022 | Bilateral Test Series | Sri Lanka | 1-0 | Mirpur |
| 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup | Bangladesh | 3 wickets | Delhi |
| 2024 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | Bangladesh | 2 wickets | Dallas |
| 2024 | Bilateral Series (BAN in SL) | Mixed | Tests SL 2-0; ODI SL 2-1; T20I BAN 2-1 | Sri Lanka |
| 2025 | Asia Cup Super 4 | Sri Lanka | 2 wickets | Abu Dhabi |
| 2025 | Test Series | Mixed | 1st drawn; SL won 2nd | Galle/Colombo |
| 2025 | Bilateral ODI Series | Sri Lanka | 2-1 | Pallekele |
| 2025 | Bilateral T20I Series | Bangladesh | 2-1 | Colombo |
The story splits into 3 phases. Before 2016, Sri Lanka won almost everything. Between 2016 and 2021, Bangladesh started chipping away. Since 2022, they’ve swapped wins within the same bilateral tour, which says everything about where this rivalry stands now.
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh head-to-head record (all formats)
Test matches
Sri Lanka lead the longest format by a mile. 21 wins from 28 Tests, with Bangladesh managing just 1 victory, in Colombo in 2017.
| Matches | Sri Lanka won | Bangladesh won | Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 21 | 1 | 6 |
ODI matches
57 ODIs since 1986. Sri Lanka won 43, Bangladesh won 12, and 2 ended without result.
| Matches | Sri Lanka won | Bangladesh won | No result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | 43 | 12 | 2 |
T20I matches
The most competitive format between these two sides. Sri Lanka lead 13-9 from 22 matches, but Bangladesh have won the last 2 bilateral T20I series.
| Matches | Sri Lanka won | Bangladesh won | No result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 |
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh match results (complete list)
| # | Date | Format | Tournament | Venue | Winner | Margin | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 2, 1986 | ODI | Asia Cup | Kandy | Sri Lanka | 7 wickets | Aravinda de Silva |
| 2 | Mar 31, 1988 | ODI | Asia Cup | Colombo | Sri Lanka | 7 wickets | Arjuna Ranatunga |
| 3 | Jan 4, 1990 | ODI | Asia Cup | Colombo | Sri Lanka | 9 wickets | Aravinda de Silva |
| 4 | Apr 9, 1995 | ODI | Asia Cup | Sharjah | Sri Lanka | 8 wickets | Sanath Jayasuriya |
| 5 | Jul 12, 1997 | ODI | Asia Cup | Colombo | Sri Lanka | 8 wickets | Sanath Jayasuriya |
| 6 | May 31, 2000 | ODI | Asia Cup | Dhaka | Sri Lanka | 7 wickets | Marvan Atapattu |
| 7 | Sep 6, 2001 | Test | Asian Test Championship | Colombo (SSC) | Sri Lanka | Inn & 137 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 8 | Jul 21, 2002 | Test | Bilateral | Colombo (PSS) | Sri Lanka | Inn & 196 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 9 | Jul 28, 2002 | Test | Bilateral | Colombo (SSC) | Sri Lanka | 288 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 10 | May 25, 2003 | ODI | ICC World Cup | Pietermaritzburg | Sri Lanka | 10 wickets | Sanath Jayasuriya |
| 11 | Sep 12, 2005 | Test | Bilateral | Colombo (RPS) | Sri Lanka | Inn & 96 runs | Chaminda Vaas |
| 12 | Sep 20, 2005 | Test | Bilateral | Colombo (PSS) | Sri Lanka | Inn & 69 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 13 | Feb 28, 2006 | Test | Bilateral | Chittagong | Sri Lanka | 8 wickets | Kumar Sangakkara |
| 14 | Mar 8, 2006 | Test | Bilateral | Bogra | Sri Lanka | 10 wickets | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 15 | Mar 15, 2007 | ODI | ICC World Cup | Port of Spain | Sri Lanka | 198 runs | Sanath Jayasuriya |
| 16 | Jun 25, 2007 | Test | Bilateral | Colombo (SSC) | Sri Lanka | Inn & 234 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 17 | Jul 3, 2007 | Test | Bilateral | Colombo (PSS) | Sri Lanka | Inn & 90 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 18 | Jul 11, 2007 | Test | Bilateral | Kandy | Sri Lanka | Inn & 193 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 19 | Sep 18, 2007 | T20I | ICC World Twenty20 | Johannesburg | Sri Lanka | 64 runs | Chaminda Vaas |
| 20 | Dec 26, 2008 | Test | Bilateral | Mirpur | Sri Lanka | 107 runs | Mahela Jayawardene |
| 21 | Jan 3, 2009 | Test | Bilateral | Chittagong | Sri Lanka | 465 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 22 | Sep 13, 2009 | ODI | Asia Cup | Dambulla | Sri Lanka | 127 runs | Tillakaratne Dilshan |
| 23 | Mar 8, 2013 | Test | Bilateral | Galle | Drawn | — | — |
| 24 | Mar 16, 2013 | Test | Bilateral | Colombo (RPS) | Sri Lanka | 7 wickets | Rangana Herath |
| 25 | Jan 27, 2014 | Test | Bilateral | Mirpur | Sri Lanka | Inn & 248 runs | Kumar Sangakkara |
| 26 | Feb 4, 2014 | Test | Bilateral | Chittagong | Drawn | — | — |
| 27 | Feb 14, 2015 | ODI | ICC World Cup | Melbourne | Sri Lanka | 92 runs | Kumar Sangakkara |
| 28 | Mar 1, 2016 | T20I | Asia Cup | Mirpur | Bangladesh | 23 runs | Sabbir Rahman |
| 29 | Mar 12, 2017 | Test | Bilateral | Colombo (PSS) | Bangladesh | 4 wickets | Shakib Al Hasan |
| 30 | Jun 1, 2017 | ODI | ICC Champions Trophy | The Oval, London | Sri Lanka | 68 runs | Upul Tharanga |
| 31 | Jan-Feb 2018 | T20I | Nidahas Trophy | Colombo | Bangladesh | Series 2-1 | Sabbir Rahman |
| 32 | Sep 20, 2018 | ODI | Asia Cup | Dubai | Sri Lanka | 137 runs | Lasith Malinga |
| 33 | May 2019 | Test | Bilateral | Colombo/Pallekele | Sri Lanka | 1-0 | Dhananjaya de Silva |
| 34 | May 23, 2021 | ODI | Bilateral | Dhaka | Bangladesh | Series 2-1 | Tamim Iqbal |
| 35 | Sep 1, 2022 | T20I | Asia Cup | Dubai | Sri Lanka | 2 wickets | Chamika Karunaratne |
| 36 | May 15, 2022 | Test | Bilateral | Mirpur | Sri Lanka | 10 wickets | Prabath Jayasuriya |
| 37 | Oct 6, 2023 | ODI | ICC World Cup | Delhi | Bangladesh | 3 wickets | Mehidy Hasan Miraz |
| 38 | Jun 8, 2024 | T20I | ICC T20 World Cup | Dallas | Bangladesh | 2 wickets | Tanzid Hasan |
| 39 | Sep 20, 2025 | T20I | Asia Cup Super 4 | Abu Dhabi | Sri Lanka | 2 wickets | Wanindu Hasaranga |
| 40 | Jun 17-21, 2025 | Test | Bilateral (1st) | Galle | Drawn | — | Mushfiqur Rahim |
| 41 | Jun 25-28, 2025 | Test | Bilateral (2nd) | Colombo | Sri Lanka | — | Kamindu Mendis |
| 42 | Jul 2-8, 2025 | ODI | Bilateral | Pallekele | Sri Lanka | Series 2-1 | Pathum Nissanka |
| 43 | Jul 10-16, 2025 | T20I | Bilateral | Colombo | Bangladesh | Series 2-1 | Rishad Hossain |
Series history between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
| Year | Series | Host | Result | Man of the series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Asia Cup (ODI) | Sri Lanka | SL win | Aravinda de Silva |
| 2001 | Asian Test Championship | Neutral | SL win | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 2002 | Bilateral Tests | Sri Lanka | SL 2-0 | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 2005 | Bilateral Tests | Sri Lanka | SL 2-0 | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 2006 | Bilateral Tests | Bangladesh | SL 2-0 | Kumar Sangakkara |
| 2007 | Bilateral Tests | Sri Lanka | SL 3-0 | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 2008-09 | Bilateral Tests | Bangladesh | SL 2-0 | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 2009 | Bilateral Tests | Sri Lanka | SL 2-0 | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| 2013 | Bilateral Tests | Sri Lanka | SL 1-0 | Rangana Herath |
| 2014 | Bilateral Tests | Bangladesh | SL 1-0 | Kumar Sangakkara |
| 2016 | Bilateral Tests | Sri Lanka | SL 2-0 | Dimuth Karunaratne |
| 2016 | Asia Cup T20 (match) | Bangladesh | BAN win | Sabbir Rahman |
| 2017 | Bilateral Tests | Neutral (SL) | BAN 1-0 | Shakib Al Hasan |
| 2018 | Nidahas Trophy T20s | Sri Lanka | BAN 2-1 | Sabbir Rahman |
| 2019 | Bilateral Tests | Sri Lanka | SL 1-0 | Dhananjaya de Silva |
| 2021 | Bilateral ODIs | Bangladesh | BAN 2-1 | Tamim Iqbal |
| 2021 | Bilateral Tests | Bangladesh | SL 1-0 | Prabath Jayasuriya |
| 2022 | Bilateral Tests | Bangladesh | SL 1-0 | Prabath Jayasuriya |
| 2024 | Full tour (Tests, ODIs, T20Is) | Sri Lanka | Tests SL 2-0; ODI SL 2-1; T20I BAN 2-1 | — |
| 2025 | Full tour (Tests, ODIs, T20Is) | Sri Lanka | Tests SL 1-0 (1 draw); ODI SL 2-1; T20I BAN 2-1 | — |
Memorable Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh matches
1. First international match (April 2, 1986)
The first-ever meeting in the Asia Cup at Kandy. Sri Lanka, already a Test nation 4 years running, were predictably dominant. They chased down Bangladesh’s total with 7 wickets in hand. The result wasn’t the point. What mattered is that Bangladesh showed up on international cricket’s stage for the first time. The rivalry started here.
2. First Bangladesh victory in Tests (March 2017)
Bangladesh scripted their first Test win over Sri Lanka in 2017 in Colombo, beating them by 4 wickets. Shakib Al Hasan was the difference, picking up crucial wickets and anchoring the chase. After 16 years of being beaten in Test cricket by Sri Lanka, Bangladesh finally broke through in Sri Lanka’s own backyard.
3. Highest successful chase (Nidahas Trophy, 2018)
Bangladesh’s 215-run chase against Sri Lanka in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy ranks as one of their best white-ball performances. They thrashed Sri Lanka’s 214-run target, their highest T20I run chase against Sri Lanka at the time. Mahmudullah’s last-ball six sealed one of the most dramatic T20I finishes in the history of this rivalry.
4. Lowest team total in the rivalry (2002)
Bangladesh collapsed to 76 all out against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2002. It remains the lowest team total in this head-to-head matchup. Muttiah Muralitharan was the primary destroyer, picking apart Bangladesh’s batting on a turning pitch.
5. Closest ODI (Asia Cup 2022, Dubai)
Sri Lanka’s 2-wicket win in the 2022 Asia Cup is as tight as this rivalry has been in 50-over cricket. Bangladesh set 183 and Sri Lanka were 70/6 at one stage. Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Chamika Karunaratne scrambled to the target with 3 balls to spare. One of the most dramatic collapses-and-recoveries in Asia Cup history.
6. Best T20 match (ICC T20 World Cup, Dallas, 2024)
Bangladesh needed 7 off the final over, chased it down to win by 2 wickets. Bangladesh registered their first-ever win against Sri Lanka in a T20 World Cup group stage match. Sri Lanka went out in the group stage as a result. The scoreboard in Dallas changed this rivalry permanently.
7. Best Test match (Galle, June 2025)
Bangladesh batted first and posted 495, riding on captain Shanto’s 148 and Mushfiqur Rahim’s 163. Sri Lanka responded with 485, Pathum Nissanka anchoring the reply with 187 and Kamindu Mendis contributing 87. In the second innings Shanto scored another century. Sri Lanka were 72/4 when stumps were called on day 5. A draw. As competitive as any Test between these two sides has ever been.
8. Asia Cup classic (2016, Mirpur)
Bangladesh’s first T20I win over Sri Lanka, by 23 runs. It didn’t just end a losing streak. It started a new phase in this rivalry. Sri Lanka had dismissed Bangladesh as a T20I threat for years. That match changed the conversation permanently.
9. ICC World Cup 2023, Delhi
Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews was timed out at the 2023 ICC World Cup against Bangladesh, the first such dismissal in international cricket history. Bangladesh won by 3 wickets. The controversy spilled into 2024, when Sri Lankan players mimicked the timed-out incident during trophy celebrations after winning the bilateral T20I series. The rivalry found new fuel.
10. Champions Trophy 2017, The Oval
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 68 runs at The Oval. A comprehensive win. But Bangladesh went on to reach the semi-finals of that same tournament. It’s still the only ICC Champions Trophy meeting between these two sides.
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh timeline in ICC tournaments
ICC Cricket World Cup
| Year | Venue | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Pietermaritzburg | Sri Lanka | 10 wickets |
| 2007 | Port of Spain | Sri Lanka | 198 runs |
| 2015 | Melbourne | Sri Lanka | 92 runs |
| 2023 | Delhi | Bangladesh | 3 wickets |
Sri Lanka have won 3 ICC Cricket World Cup meetings (2003, 2007, 2015). Bangladesh won the most recent in 2023 in Delhi. The head-to-head at World Cups stands at 3-1 in Sri Lanka’s favour.
Read More : Sri Lanka national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline
ICC T20 World Cup
| Year | Venue | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Johannesburg | Sri Lanka | 64 runs |
| 2021 | Sharjah | Sri Lanka | 5 wickets |
| 2024 | Dallas | Bangladesh | 2 wickets |
Sri Lanka won in 2007 and 2021. Bangladesh registered their first-ever T20 World Cup win against Sri Lanka in the 2024 group stage in Dallas, which knocked Sri Lanka out of the tournament.
ICC Champions Trophy
| Year | Venue | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Oval, London | Sri Lanka | 68 runs |
One meeting. Sri Lanka won. Bangladesh reached the semi-finals of the same tournament.
Asia Cup (all editions)
| Year | Format | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 1988 | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 1990 | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 1995 | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 1997 | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 2000 | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 2004 | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 2008 | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 2010 | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 2012 | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 2014 | ODI | Sri Lanka |
| 2016 (Super 4) | T20I | Bangladesh |
| 2018 | ODI | Sri Lanka (group); Bangladesh (final) |
| 2022 | T20I | Sri Lanka |
| 2025 Super 4 | T20I | Sri Lanka |
The two nations have met on 20 occasions in the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka have won 16 of those meetings compared to Bangladesh’s 4.
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh head-to-head at different venues
In Sri Lanka
| Stadium | Matches | SL won | BAN won | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galle International Stadium | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| SSC Ground, Colombo | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| P. Sara Oval, Colombo | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
In Bangladesh
| Stadium | Matches | SL won | BAN won | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Neutral venues
| Location | Matches | SL won | BAN won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai International Cricket Stadium | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Sharjah Cricket Stadium | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Dallas (Grand Prairie Stadium) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Johannesburg (New Wanderers) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh statistics
Highest team scores
| Team | Score | Format | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 730/6d | Test | Mirpur | 2014 |
| Bangladesh | 638 | Test | Galle | 2013 |
| Sri Lanka | 577/6d | Test | Colombo (SSC) | 2007 |
| Sri Lanka | 555/5d | Test | Colombo (SSC) | 2001 |
| Bangladesh | 495 | Test | Galle | 2025 |
| Sri Lanka | 357/9 | ODI | Colombo | 1998 |
Lowest team totals
| Team | Score | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 62 | Colombo (PSS) | 2007 |
| Bangladesh | 76 | Colombo | 2002 |
| Bangladesh | 86 | Colombo (RPS) | 2005 |
| Bangladesh | 89 | Colombo (SSC) | 2007 |
| Bangladesh | 90 | Colombo (SSC) | 2001 |
| Sri Lanka | 83 | Mirpur (T20I) | 2024 |
Highest successful run chases
| Team | Target | Format | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 215 | T20I | Colombo | 2018 |
| Bangladesh | 186 | ODI | Dhaka | 2021 |
| Sri Lanka | 165 | ODI | Mirpur | 2021 |
Biggest victories
| Winner | Margin | Format | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 465 runs | Test | 2009 |
| Sri Lanka | Inn & 248 runs | Test | 2014 |
| Sri Lanka | Inn & 234 runs | Test | 2007 |
| Sri Lanka | Inn & 196 runs | Test | 2002 |
| Sri Lanka | 10 wickets | ODI | 2003 |
Top run scorers in Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh matches
Tests
| Player | Team | Innings | Runs | Average | Highest | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 11 | 1,033 | 114.7 | 319 | 5 | 3 |
| Dimuth Karunaratne | Sri Lanka | 11 | 700 | 64.0 | 244 | 3 | 1 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | Sri Lanka | 9 | 587 | 73.4 | 168 | 2 | 4 |
| Mushfiqur Rahim | Bangladesh | 26 | 1,024 | 42.6 | 200 | 4 | 5 |
| Tamim Iqbal | Bangladesh | 22 | 881 | 40.0 | 206 | 3 | 4 |
| Mominul Haque | Bangladesh | 20 | 755 | 41.9 | 181 | 2 | 5 |
Sangakkara was relentless against Bangladesh, averaging 114.7 across 11 innings with 5 centuries. His 319 in Chittagong in 2014 remains the highest individual score in the entire rivalry.
ODIs
| Player | Team | Matches | Runs | Average | Highest | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 28 | 1,147 | 52.1 | 169 | 4 | 7 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 22 | 879 | 44.0 | 130 | 2 | 6 |
| Tamim Iqbal | Bangladesh | 31 | 1,012 | 34.8 | 116 | 2 | 8 |
| Mushfiqur Rahim | Bangladesh | 35 | 889 | 31.0 | 93 | 0 | 8 |
| Upul Tharanga | Sri Lanka | 22 | 702 | 36.9 | 174 | 2 | 4 |
T20Is
| Player | Team | Matches | Runs | Average | Highest | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Litton Das | Bangladesh | 12 | 242 | 22.0 | 74 | 2 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | Sri Lanka | 8 | 197 | 32.8 | 83 | 2 |
| Sabbir Rahman | Bangladesh | 9 | 185 | 26.4 | 80 | 2 |
Leading wicket-takers
Tests
| Player | Team | Matches | Wickets | Average | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 9 | 89 | 13.2 | 7/46 |
| Rangana Herath | Sri Lanka | 12 | 58 | 24.1 | 7/89 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 14 | 49 | 31.4 | 6/82 |
| Taijul Islam | Bangladesh | 12 | 38 | 35.2 | 7/116 |
| Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 8 | 36 | 19.8 | 5/41 |
Muralitharan took 89 wickets against Bangladesh in Tests at an average of 13.2, including 11 five-wicket hauls. No bowler in this rivalry comes close.
ODIs
| Player | Team | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 22 | 43 | 3.78 | 4/21 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 35 | 42 | 4.10 | 5/36 |
| Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 20 | 38 | 4.85 | 5/34 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | 26 | 35 | 4.55 | 5/50 |
| Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 18 | 28 | 3.91 | 4/31 |
T20Is
| Player | Team | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | 14 | 22 | 6.85 | 4/9 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | 12 | 18 | 6.90 | 3/12 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 11 | 14 | 7.10 | 3/15 |
Best individual batting performances
| Performance | Player | Team | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest score (Test) | 319 | Kumar Sangakkara | Chittagong | 2014 |
| Highest score (ODI) | 174 | Upul Tharanga | Colombo | 2011 |
| Highest score (T20I) | 83 | Tillakaratne Dilshan | Colombo | 2011 |
| Highest BAN score (Test) | 206 | Tamim Iqbal | Mirpur | 2013 |
| Highest BAN score (ODI) | 116 | Tamim Iqbal | Colombo | 2014 |
| Highest BAN score (T20I) | 80 | Sabbir Rahman | Mirpur | 2017 |
Best bowling performances
| Performance | Player | Team | Format | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best figures (Test) | 7/46 | Muttiah Muralitharan | SL | Test | Multiple |
| Best figures (ODI) | 5/34 | Lasith Malinga | SL | ODI | Colombo |
| Best figures (ODI-BAN) | 5/36 | Shakib Al Hasan | BAN | ODI | Mirpur |
| Best figures (T20I) | 4/9 | Wanindu Hasaranga | SL | T20I | Dubai |
| Best figures (T20I-BAN) | 4/10 | Shakib Al Hasan | BAN | T20I | Mirpur |
| Hat-tricks | None recorded | — | — | — | — |
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh captains record
| Captain | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arjuna Ranatunga | SL | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.0 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | SL | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 81.8 |
| Dinesh Chandimal | SL | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 62.5 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | SL | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 62.5 |
| Dasun Shanaka | SL | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 58.3 |
| Tamim Iqbal | BAN | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 37.5 |
| Najmul Hossain Shanto | BAN | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 44.4 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | BAN | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 33.3 |
| Mashrafe Mortaza | BAN | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 28.6 |
Venue-wise record
| Stadium | Matches | Sri Lanka won | Bangladesh won | Drawn/NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galle International Stadium | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 |
| Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Pallekele Int’l Cricket Stadium | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Dubai International Cricket Stadium | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Timeline of major moments
| Year | Moment |
|---|---|
| 1986 | First ODI meeting, Asia Cup, Kandy. SL win by 7 wickets |
| 2001 | First Test meeting, Colombo. SL win by inn & 137 runs |
| 2002 | Bangladesh all out for 76 (lowest total in rivalry) |
| 2007 | First T20I meeting, ICC World Twenty20, Johannesburg. SL win by 64 runs |
| 2009 | Sri Lanka’s biggest Test win: 465 runs, Chittagong |
| 2014 | Kumar Sangakkara scores 319 at Chittagong (highest individual score in rivalry) |
| 2016 | Bangladesh’s first T20I win over Sri Lanka (Asia Cup, 23 runs) |
| 2017 | Bangladesh’s first Test win over Sri Lanka (Colombo, 4 wickets) |
| 2018 | Bangladesh’s 215-run chase in Nidahas Trophy T20I (Colombo) |
| 2021 | Bangladesh’s first bilateral ODI series win over Sri Lanka (2-1, Dhaka) |
| 2023 | Angelo Mathews becomes first player ever timed out in international cricket, vs Bangladesh |
| 2024 | Bangladesh eliminates Sri Lanka from T20 World Cup group stage, Dallas |
| 2025 | Mushfiqur Rahim becomes Bangladesh’s highest Test run-scorer in Sri Lanka |
| 2025 | Same July bilateral: SL win ODIs 2-1; BAN win T20Is 2-1 |
Top partnerships
| Partnership | Players | Team | Wicket | Format | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 247 | Shanto & Mushfiqur Rahim | Bangladesh | 4th | Test | Galle | 2025 |
| 222 | Sangakkara & Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 3rd | Test | Mirpur | 2014 |
| 201 | Jayasuriya & Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 1st | ODI | Colombo | 2009 |
| 185 | Tamim Iqbal & Imrul Kayes | Bangladesh | 1st | ODI | Mirpur | 2014 |
| 176 | Karunaratne & Thirimanne | Sri Lanka | 1st | Test | Chittagong | 2021 |
Biggest winning margins
By runs (Tests)
| Winner | Margin | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 465 runs | Chittagong | 2009 |
| Sri Lanka | 288 runs | Colombo | 2002 |
| Sri Lanka | Inn & 248 runs | Mirpur | 2014 |
By wickets (ODIs and T20Is)
| Winner | Margin | Format | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 10 wickets | ODI | Pietermaritzburg | 2003 |
| Sri Lanka | 9 wickets | ODI | Colombo | 1990 |
| Bangladesh | 6 wickets | T20I | Dubai | 2025 |
Interesting facts about the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh rivalry
- The two sides first met on April 2, 1986, at Kandy. Bangladesh were still an associate nation without Test status.
- Kumar Sangakkara scored 1,033 runs against Bangladesh in Tests at an average of 114.7, the highest in this rivalry for any batsman.
- Muttiah Muralitharan took 89 Test wickets against Bangladesh across 9 Tests, including 11 five-wicket hauls.
- Bangladesh had to wait 20 years from their first ODI against Sri Lanka before recording any win. Their first ODI win over anyone came in 1998.
- Sri Lanka posted their highest ODI score of 357 for 9 against Bangladesh in 1998.
- Bangladesh’s only Test win over Sri Lanka came away from home, in Colombo, in 2017.
- Angelo Mathews was timed out in the 2023 ICC World Cup against Bangladesh, the first such dismissal in the history of international cricket.
- In July 2025, Sri Lanka won the ODI series 2-1 and Bangladesh won the T20I series 2-1, from the same bilateral tour on the same grounds in Sri Lanka.
- The rivalry’s nickname, the “Naagin Derby,” comes from Bangladesh’s Naagin dance celebration after a 2018 Nidahas Trophy win.
- Sri Lanka have never lost a bilateral Test series to Bangladesh across 14 series played.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Who has won more matches between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh?
Sri Lanka. Across all formats: 21-1 in Tests, 43-12 in ODIs, and 13-9 in T20Is. The T20I gap has narrowed significantly since 2016, and Bangladesh have won 4 of the last 6 bilateral T20I series.
When did Bangladesh first defeat Sri Lanka?
Their first T20I win came in 2016 at the Asia Cup in Mirpur, by 23 runs. Their first Test win came in 2017, by 4 wickets in Colombo.
What is the biggest victory in this rivalry?
Sri Lanka’s 465-run Test win in Chittagong in 2009. In ODIs, their 10-wicket win at the 2003 World Cup in Pietermaritzburg.
Who has scored the most runs?
Kumar Sangakkara leads in Tests with 1,033 runs at 114.7, and in ODIs with over 1,100 runs. For Bangladesh, Mushfiqur Rahim is the leading run-getter in Tests and Tamim Iqbal in ODIs.
Who has taken the most wickets?
Muttiah Muralitharan in Tests (89 wickets) and ODIs (43 wickets). For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan leads in both formats.
What is the highest team score in this rivalry?
Sri Lanka’s 730 for 6 declared in Mirpur in 2014 is the highest team total.
What is the lowest total?
Bangladesh scored 62 all out in Colombo in 2007, the lowest team total in this rivalry.
Which ICC tournaments featured Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh?
ICC Cricket World Cups in 2003, 2007, 2015, and 2023; ICC T20 World Cups in 2007, 2021, and 2024; ICC Champions Trophy in 2017.
Who has won more Asia Cup matches?
Sri Lanka have won 16 of their 20 Asia Cup meetings against Bangladesh. Bangladesh have won 4.
When was their most recent match?
July 2025. Bangladesh won the T20I bilateral series 2-1 in Sri Lanka. The same tour saw Sri Lanka win the ODI series 2-1.
What is the current state of the rivalry?
Competitive in T20Is, lopsided in Tests, and Sri Lanka still ahead in ODIs with the gap closing. The July 2025 bilateral saw both sides win one format each from the same tour, which is the clearest sign yet that these two teams are now genuine rivals.
Who is Bangladesh’s top wicket-taker?
Shakib Al Hasan, with 49 Test wickets and 42 ODI wickets against Sri Lanka. He’s Bangladesh’s most reliable match-winner in this matchup across formats.
What role does home advantage play?
A big one in Tests. Sri Lanka haven’t won a Test series in Bangladesh since 2009. Bangladesh haven’t won a Test series in Sri Lanka other than in 2017.
Has either side registered a hat-trick in this rivalry?
No hat-tricks have been recorded across any format in the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh head-to-head.
Which player has the most Player of the Match awards?
Muttiah Muralitharan, with 14 across all formats. Kumar Sangakkara follows with 9. For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan leads with 7.
Conclusion
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Bangladesh national cricket team timeline covers 40 years and shows how much this rivalry has shifted. Sri Lanka started it as one of the world’s best sides. Bangladesh started it as an associate nation without a single international win to their name.
Today, the Tests still belong to Sri Lanka, 21-1 is hard to argue with. But in T20Is, Bangladesh win nearly as often as they lose, and their recent bilaterals say the 50-over gap is closing too.
The July 2025 bilateral said it clearest: Sri Lanka take the ODIs, Bangladesh take the T20Is. Same pitches, same 2 weeks, same tour. That’s where this Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Bangladesh national cricket team timeline stands right now, and the next ICC cycle will only make it more interesting.
