Sri Lanka might have handed India its biggest ODI defeat in terms of balls remaining on Sunday, but captain Kumar Sangakkara feels the islanders’ best victory against the team came way back in 2000 in Sharjah.
In the Coca Cola Champions Trophy in October, 2000, India, chasing Sri Lanka's 300-run target, were bowled out for a meagre 54 to register their lowest ODI score and Sangakkara said it was the most memorable win against the Indians so far in his career.
"The best win against India I guess was in Sharjah, very early in my career. We got 299 and India were 54 all out. So that was a great win and that was a great side," the wicket-keeper batsman said after Sri Lanka defeated India by eight wickets with 209 balls to spare in a tri-series match on Sunday night.
The eight-wicket defeat on Sunday was India's biggest in terms of balls remaining, surpassing the loss to Australia at Sydney in 1981 in which the Aussies romped home with 174 balls to spare.
The Lankan skipper said Sunday win was a huge confidence booster for his side. "Some of our greats have retired, so the win with this side is great for our confidence. It showed that we still can do things like this. But the key is to win matches consistently," Sangakkara said.