Sri Lanka's first-innings feast, second-innings famine
The Sri Lanka batsmen put in contrasting performances in both innings in their first ever day-night Test in Dubai. After putting up 482 runs in 159.2 overs in the first innings, they were bundled for just 96 in 26 overs in the second innings. This was only the sixth instance in Tests when a team was bowled out for under 100 after posting a 400-plus total in their first innings. Sri Lanka were involved in the previous instance as well, with scores of 400 and 82 against England in Cardiff in 2011. No other team has done this after 2000.
The difference in Sri Lanka's totals was 386 runs, which is their highest ever difference in totals of two innings in a Test. Their previous highest was 383 against Australia in Colombo (SSC) in 1992. It was also the first instance of any team having a difference of over 350 runs in their totals in a Test against Pakistan. Sri Lanka had a lead of 220 in the first innings. Their second-innings total of 96 is the lowest for any team after gaining a first-innings lead of over 100 runs. The previous lowest was South Africa's 99 against Australia in Durban in 1950 after having a lead of 236.
Sri Lanka's second innings lasted just 26 overs. Only three times have they had a shorter innings when they have been bowled out. The longest Sri Lanka went without losing a wicket in the second innings was six overs, for the second wicket. They had only three partnerships in double-digit figures and the highest was 35, for the eighth wicket between Kusal Mendis and Rangana Herath. In the first innings, they had five fifty-plus stands for their first six wickets.
| Score | Overs | Result | Opposition | Venue | Date |
| 103 | 24.2 | lost | Australia | Melbourne | 26-Dec-12 |
| 82 | 24.4 | lost | England | Cardiff | 26-May-11 |
| 73 | 24.5 | lost | Pakistan | Kandy | 03-Apr-06 |
| 96 | 26.0 | - | Pakistan | Dubai (DSC) | 06-Oct-17 |
| 97 | 27.3 | lost | New Zealand | Kandy | 09-Mar-84 |
Three of Sri Lanka's four shortest Test innings have come this decade. No other team has been bowled out within 30 overs in this decade more than twice. They were bowled out in 24.2 overs at the MCG in 2012 and 24.4 overs in Cardiff in 2011. Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan have been bowled out twice within 30 overs in this decade.
Despite their collapse, Sri Lanka set Pakistan 317 to level the series. The highest successful chase in the UAE is 302 by Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Sharjah in 2013-14, while the highest in Dubai is only 137. If Sri Lanka win the Dubai Test, they would become the only side in the last 100 years to win a Test after being bowled out for less than 100 in the third innings. Overall, there have been three such instances, the last of which was in 1902.