(Part four of 199s is below. Parts one, two, and three are here, here, and here.)
The fourth score of 199 in Test cricket happened on August the 9th, 1997.
The batter? Sanath Jayasuriya, for Sri Lanka.
It happened in the third innings of the second of two tests in Sri Lanka versus India. Both matches ended in draws.
In the first Test, Jayasuriya scored a massive triple ton, 340 to be exact, giving him 571 runs for the series: a record for a two match Test series, besting W. Hammond’s record of 563 runs set way back in the 1930s.
In the match, Tendulkar hit a ton in his first innings (of course) for India, as did Ganguly, as did Mohammed Azharuddin – who of course is also a member of the 199 Club.
Jarasuriya is best known for lighting up the stage during his One Day International career, but he was equally prolific as a Test batsman, playing in 110 Tests and hitting 6.973 runs – including 14 100s, two double hundreds, and the triple hundred discussed above.
Also, of course, he is a politician, and was brought out of retirement in a rather farcical manner to play in the one-dayers last summer in England.
In ODIs, he really is king: 445 matches and 13,430 runs (only Sachin has more), including 28 hundreds and the fifth highest ODI score ever: 189 v India at Sharjah in 2000.
He also scored the fastest 50 in ODI history: off of only seventeen deliveries.
Seventeen!
SEVENTEEN!
His 199 took place at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, in Colombo.
The ground in 2001, Sri Lanka v England:
And your geography lesson:
The ground has hosted Tests since 1984, and according to its Wiki Page, it is known as the Lord’s of Sri Lanka – the spiritual home of Sri Lankan cricket.
As of late, however, the preeminent ground in Colombo has been the Premadasa Stadium. In fact, the SCC did not host a single match during the 2011 World Cup, while the Premadasa Stadium hosted five group matches, a quarter-final, and a semi-final.
Unlike other members of the dubious 199 Club, Jarasuriya had a long and propserous career.
His 199 was a a blip, all but forgotten I am sure, especially since he knocked a double Test century just a little over a year later, versus England at the Oval.
One last note: Jarasuriya’s wicket was taken by the fast bowler, Abey Kuruvilla – probably the tallest player to bowl for India at six feet, six inches.
He only played in 10 tests, and only took 25 wickets. He did play First Class cricket in India for ten years, taking 290 wickets, but his international career never really took off.
So I bet Jarasuriya’s wicket, though maybe long forgotten by the batsman, is remember fondly by the bowler.
Back on the pitch:
Not a great deal happening. I summed up the #testcricketweek that was in my post last night.
The cricket world is busy less with cricket and more with figuring out what exactly went wrong for India in Australia, and England in the UAE; something best left to the experts.
Until next time (which is what the NPCs in Skyrim say when conversations end, so I am going to stop ending my posts with it.)
Limited Overs 
I’m reading through your posts from the last two weeks now that I’m back from India, and all I have to say is– with all this Test cricket, you still have time for Skyrim?!?!
I have been getting like three hours of sleep a night.
Also: welcome home! I hope you had a good trip.