When a Sri Lankan batsman notched up one record after another during a single innings? (15 Aug 2001)

Brendon Kuruppu made his Test debut against New Zealand at the Colombo Cricket club ground on April 16, 1987. The 25-year-old wicketkeeper batsman, who had previously appeared in 21 ODIs, opened the innings and while his partners fell one by one, he stayed put at the crease to play the sheet anchor role to perfection. At the end of the first day, Sri Lanka were 141 for three with Kuruppu batting on 66. By the end of the second day, Sri Lanka had progressed to 317 for five and Kuruppu was still at the crease with 153. By this time he had become the first wicket-keeper - and the first Sri Lankan - to score a hundred in his first Test. On the third day, the story was the same. Wickets continued to fall but Kuruppu continued unshaken. With last man Kuruppuachchi at the crease, Kuruppu reached his double century. He became the third batsman to score 200 on debut. Duleep Mendis' declaration at 397 for nine, left Kuruppu not out with 201. The feat of carrying the bat on debut thus eluded him but the score was Sri Lanka's first Test double century. He had batted 776 minutes to reach 200, the slowest double century in all first class cricket. His innings, which lasted a minute longer, was then the third longest in Test and first class cricket, and in all he encountered 548 balls and hit 24 fours. Incidentally, it was his maiden first class hundred.

In the remaining time, New Zealand replied with 406 for five. Kuruppu latched on to one catch, did not let through a single bye and became the second player to be on the field throughout his maiden Test. Viewed from any angle, it was a monumental effort, well deserving of the accolades it received. Kuruppu however was a trifle unlucky in that the second and third Tests of the series were abandoned following political unrest. He played only three more Tests with moderate results.

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