Third time is a charm

Demi HEWAMANNA

Third time is a charm they say and yes Sri Lanka has made it to the 2011 Cricket World Cup finals to be played in hours to come today with India making it a third entry to the World Cup finals.

Both teams battled their way through other World Champion teams to be here today face to face as the first ever Asian teams to come to a final match that is sure to make history in some way or the other.

My first ever entry to the world of Cricket was when I sat down and watched the 1996 World Cup with my parents the whole day (only because I couldn't watch anything else). It was the best match in my life, enjoying the cheer as our team fought ball after ball to win the coveted titled cup. The super six by former player Asanka Gurusinghe was so unforgettable that even today people talk about it and how our then Captain Arjuna Ranatunga fought with umpires when players were treated unjustly and so on.

Cricket, like everyone says is not our national game, but it's a sport that's loved by the whole nation. I know a quite a lot of people who used to whine about cricket but after a little persuasion here and there, they never miss a single match today.

And its amazing how technology brings the whole world together as well. And the most famous networking system that's on now is Facebook and through that people from all over have connection with one another. Every minute that I used to log on to my account and enter my homepage, there was nothing but status updates of my friends on the ongoing matches and who they were rooting to making it to the quarterfinals semis and then the finals.

What I can't forget was how, when we were battling it out with New Zealand on March 29 at R Premadasa Stadium, people had put updates on Facebook with the craziest and wackiest comments I've ever read. It was the same with India and Pakistan, with a majority hoping to have Pakistan into the finals.

For our semi-final match, the streets were filled with people all painted yellow and blue walking with the National flag, cheering, singing and just going crazy as they made their way to the R Premadasa Stadium. A lot of people, I heard, had put half day form work just to go home, friend's place or to the stadium to watch the match in style. In the evening, the moment out guys began batting; it was a nail biting experience. Places were being closed earlier than usual, screens were put everywhere for people to catch up with the results.

Every sports club, arena and grounds had all set up giant screens for people (who couldn't afford to go to the match venue) to come with their friends and families and watch the match stadium style. Going home after work was not that easy as well, because the drivers and night shifters all wanted to wait and see what's going to happen. TV phones, radios and others were all being tuned up and as everyone 'did' want to know the final results, stopped at a place where they had put a big screen out on the road and watched the match to the final minute. It was just exciting to see how people loved this game so much and how it brought everyone closer.

The moment the winning four was scored, it was cracker time and the night sky was lit with colourful lights bursting out non stop from all corners of the country.

I pray for our team and I know the whole Nation is backing them up full steam ahead. Whatever the outcome, we are PROUD of our team for coming all the way to the finals and giving us an year to remember and relive with hope and excitement. Do us proud guys we are with you to the end!.