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The year was 1995. The venue Mclean Park, Napier, New Zealand. Sri Lanka was playing the First Test against New Zealand. The team comprised of - Arjuna Ranatunga (Captain) Aravinda De Silva, A Gurusinghe, D. Samaraweera, S. Ranatunga, H. Tilakaratne, C. Dunusinghe (W.K.) C. Vaas, P. Wickremasinge, M. Muralitharan, R. Pushpakumara. Others in the tour party were S. Jayasuriya, R. Kalpage, C. Mendis, J. Silva, J. C. Gamage, Neil Perera (Manager), T. B. Kehelgamuwa (Cricket Manager).

There had been early morning rain and the covers had been removed later than usual. The wicket was green and damp and appeared to have been deliberately prepared to suit the more fancied and better equipped New Zealand pace bowlers with Danny Morrison being the best among them. New Zealand Captain Rutherford won the toss, and as expected put Sri Lanka into bat.

The ball moved around appreciably during the first few hours of the match and at lunch Sri Lanka had lost 4 wickets for only 64 runs with Gurusinghe, S. Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva and H. Tilakaratne all back in the pavilion. Arjuna Ranatunga made a typical fighting innings of 55 runs to enable Sri Lanka muster a fairly respectable total of 183 with D. Samaraweera and C. Vass making useful contributions of 33 runs each.

When New Zealand went in to bat Sri Lanka hit back strongly and three New Zealand wickets fell for only six runs. At stumps New Zealand were 33 for three wickets. On resumption of play the Sri Lankan pacemen made full use of the overcast conditions and restricted the New Zealand total to 109. Chaminda Vass bowled superbly to capture five wickets for 47 runs while P. Wickremasinghe with three for 33 and R. Pushpakumara with two for 32 gave him valuable support.

In the 2nd innings Sri Lanka was in trouble again with three wickets falling for only 22 runs. Dulip Samaraweera was out in a most controversial manner. Samaraweera played a ball in front of him and attempted a run, but got back to his crease. Soon after, the New Zealand Skipper Rutherford threw the ball direct at Samaraweera who jumped up to avoid being hit. The ball hit the stumps when Samaraweera was in the air and to the amazement of the Sri Lankan team Rutherford appealed and the decision was referred to the 3rd Umpire. A bigger surprise was to follow when Samaraweera was ruled 'Out'.

The 3rd Umpire's decision violated Rule 38 of the Law of Cricket which states that a Batsman is not out if he takes preventive action to avoid injury, provided he had been at the Crease immediately prior to the ball hitting the Stumps. There was a great fight back by the experienced duo Aravinda de Silva and Hashan Tilakaratne and at close of play Sri Lanka were 82 for three.

Overnight rain delayed the start of the 3rd days play. When play commenced Sri Lanka grafted their runs in real professional style and the day ended with Sri Lanka on 253 for six wickets mainly due to a 99 run partnership between Aravinda de Silva with 62 runs and Hashan tilakaratne with 74 runs, which steered Sri Lanka to a formidable position. Arjuna Ranatunga yet again played a valuable innings of 28 runs and Dunusinghe provided his worth as a batsman with 50 not out at close of play.

The days proceedings were marred by an unsavoury incident when the New Zealand Captain was reported by me to the Match Referee, for abusing the Sri Lanka Captain while he was batting. After a personal appeal was made by the President of the Napier Cricket Association however, the matter was settled amicably with the two Captains shaking hands.

On the fourth day Sri Lanka went on to score 352 runs giving them a lead of 426 runs. Dunusinghe was unlucky to be out at 91 missing out on what would have been a dream century on debut. He was in excellent touch and played the bowling on it's merit. Vaas again proved his worth as a batsman scoring a valuable 36 runs. D. Morrison bowled bet for New Zealand taking four wickets for 61 runs.

Chasing a score of 427 runs New Zealand made a very confident start having 100 for one wicket at one stage. However a sudden turn of events saw three wickets falling in a space of 12 balls and New Zealand slumped to 112 for four wickets ending the day at 139 for 4 wickets. Muralitharan finished with three for 47.

The legality of Muralitharans action had been questioned by the New Zealanders and the Referee Barry Jarman, a former Australian Wicketkeeper also indicated that he would take up the issue with the ICC. at that time the ICC was not handling such issues and I informed the Referee that the legality of his action had not been questioned by almost all the International Umpires and that we were certain that his action was legal. However it was a matter entirely in the hands of the Umpires.

A leading New Zealand Newspaper put this matter in the correct perspective with the headline "Cornered Kiwis Query Spin Bowlers Action." With impending defeat it was obvious that the New Zealanders were trying to find a scapegoat.

Vaas and Muralitharan opened bowling on the final day and New Zealand succumbed to be all out for 185 runs leaving Sri Lanka victorious by a huge margin of 241 runs. Vaas who bowled superbly throughout the match had match figures of 10 for 90 and scores of 33 not out and 26 was deservedly selected Man of the Match. Muralitharan also bowled equally well to take five wickets for 43 runs.

This was indeed a moment all Sri Lankans had been waiting for and first Test win abroad after 14 years was both memorable and historic. The joy and pride of the Sri Lankan players had to be seen to be believed. The image of Sri Lanka ascended dramatically and the treatment and respect we received after this victory was quite in contrast to that received during the early part of the tour when we had been rated last behind New Zealand and Zimbabwe. The Sri Lankan expatriates who were a great source of encouragement to us were feeling 10 feet tall.

The Sri Lankan expatriates sensing a victory had smuggled in six bottles of Champagne into the dressing room even before the match was won and all hands went towards the Champagne bottles. It was here that I saw Arjuna at his best. He whispered to me that first of all we must spend five minutes in religious observance.

The Celebrations were halted temporarily and a more solemn air prevailed when the entire team stood in silence behind closed doors for several minutes in religious observance. When Arjuna reminded me that we should sing the National Anthem I was wondering whether I was forgetting my duties as Manager. As we sang the National Anthem we could feel a sense of National feeling in our very bones.

The pride of bringing victory to the motherland was manifest in everyone present and the Sri Lankans expatiates in New Zealand were now able to walk with their heads held high in their land of adoption. Congratulations poured in from the President, the Prime Minister and hundreds of other Sri Lankans. This was indeed one of the greatest moments of my life.

(Neil Perera, Manager, Sri Lanka Tour of New Zealand)

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