Stats: Highest individual Test scores when no other batsman reached 30

Dimuth Karunaratne has slowly become Sri Lanka’s most reliable Test batsman and his latest innings against South Africa proves the same. The opener amassed an unbeaten 158 to help the hosts to finish with 287 on a rank turner. His knock put South African batsmen under pressure as the Sri Lankan spinners produced sharp turn from the pitch. Karunaratne carried the bat through their innings adding 111 runs for the last two wickets.

Karunaratne, playing his 50th Test match, scored his 8th Test century and his first against South Africa. Four of his eight Test tons have been 150+ scores but is still waiting for his maiden double hundred. His century looked tough when they were eight down for 176 before he added 44 for 9th wicket stand with Suranga Lakmal and 63 runs for the final wicket with Lakshan Sandakan, the biggest of the innings. Karunaratne’s opening partner Danushka Gunathilaka scored 26 which is the 2nd highest score of the innings.

Karunaratne’s unbeaten 158 is 6th highest individual score and only the 8th 150+ score in Test cricket where no other batsman crossed 30. Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene scored 180 against England in the 2012 Test match also in Galle. No Sri Lankan batsman other than Mahela scored more than 27 in that innings. Opening the innings in the 2000 Sydney Test, VVS Laxman scored 167 against Australia out of team’s total of 167. The 2nd best score in that innings came from Sourav Ganguly’s bat who scored 25.

In the first ever Test innings, Charles Bannerman scored 67.37% of Australia‘s total of 245 which is a long-standing record till date. Bannerman scored 165 where none of his teammates scored more than 18. Chris Gayle carried his bat in the 2009 Adelaide Test scoring an unbeaten 165 with the 2nd best score being 27. Former Australian captain amassed 163 in Australia’s 2nd innings in the 1985 Melbourne Test when no other got more than 20.

150+ individual scores where no other batsman scored 30+ in Test cricket:

(Stats as on July 13, 2018)