World Cup 1996:

Commitment helped us win it

Ransiri FERNANDO

March 17, 1996 will be remembered as the most glorious and glamorous day in the history of the sports of our country. Playing the finals in the fifth world cup Sri Lanka defeated the Australians to win the world cup at Lahore in Pakistan.

Aravinda De Silva

The match between India and Sri Lanka could be called the landmark tussle on our way to the top. It was a thrilling encounter that had a dark and a sad ending. A riot by sections of the crowd as India was sliding to an inevitable defeat brought an end to the game. The match refree Clive Lloyd awarded the game to Sri Lanka.

Arjuna Ranatunga's strong team would have won anyway had the match gone its course. A crowd of 100,000 people watched in dismay when the hosts collapsed from 1-98 to 8-120 in reply to Sri Lankas 8 for 251. Sri Lanka started hopelessly with the two dashing openers Romesh Kaluwitharana and Sanath Jayasuriya back in the hut for one run and Gurusingha dismissed with the score at 19.

This brought Aravinda De Silva to the crease with his captain Ranatunga. Like a counter punching boxer Aravinda returned blows after blows to all parts of the ground; clean beautifully timed strokes of neat movement.

Crafty innings

It was a calculated crafty innings and was no second to the century he made in the final. Useful contributions from Mahanama, Thilekaratne and Vaas helped Sri Lanka to reach 251. The Sri Lankan bowlers came to the fore and had the Indians tottering at 120.

The players of Sri Lanka and Australia enjoyed a Saturday night official world cup dinner and went to bed early. They woke up on Sunday Morning to see an overcast sky and experience a strong blowing.

There had been heavy overnight rain and there was no guarantee the final would start on time. The ground staff did an excellent job and the covers were removed and the players started their warm up routines.

Sri Lanka was brimming in confidence with a strong team and a well planned campaign. It was a great credit to the coach Dav Whatmore who worked round the clock with the team as well as manager Duleep Mendis, a former captain and one of the hardest hitters of the game. "Dav told us Let's do the little things right and we will see what the result is at the end of the day" said Arjuna.

He was discussing with the great coach and maestro Mendis as what to do if the luck of coin favours Sri Lanka. An hour before the match the legend Imran Khan met Arjuna and said its better to bat first rather than chasing at Lahore.

But Sri Lankans had other ideas because they had full confidence in their batting with a galaxy of competent willow wielders.

Clash

Out side the ground the Police clashed with spectators desperate to get in. Gaddafi Stadium was full with a capacity crowd of over 110,000 and majority supported Sri Lanka. This was quite evident from the larger number of Sri Lankan flags that waved when it was announced that Arjuna Ranatunga had won the toss.

Sri Lankans preferred to bowl after having the first share of luck. Both teams announced unchanged sides from their semi final wins. Englishman David Shepherd and West Indies Steve Bucknor were nominated to officiate in this most important game.

The two-Mark Taylor and Waugh walked out to the middle obviously with the intention of making a mark not only for themselves but for their country. Skipper Taylor started in an aggressive frame of mind when he took on the Sri Lankan opening attack of Pramodaya Wickramasingha and Chaminda Vaas. From the very beginning the Australian captain was finding the middle of the bat and smashing the white ball to the ropes. Mark Waugh preferred to start things quietly looking to build another huge score.

Young Vaas's second over was a beauty. He beat Mark Waugh on more than four occasions. A pinpoint in swinging yorker from Chaminda Vaas thumped into the stationary pads of Mark Waugh and a confident appeal as turned down.

In the eighth over Vaas bowled an in swinger that forced Mark Waugh to offer an easy catch to an elated Sanath Jayasuriya at square leg. In spite of loosing the inform Waugh, Taylor started to rebuild well and fast with his partner Ricky Ponting. Now the runs were coming freely again, especially from the captain, who hit Vaas over square leg for a six.

By the 15th over the total has reached 1-82. Taylor raced past his fifty in 52 balls and even the introduction of maestro Muralitharan made no difference. At the half way stage of the innings Australian were 1-134 and most people thought that Sri Lanka will have to chase score of over 300. At this stage Ranatunga introduced his sixth bowler, the vastly experienced Aravinda. Taylor had made 74 in 83 balls with eight fours and a six, added 101 in 19 overs with Ponting.

Upper half

He swept De Silva and the ball hit the upper half of the blade and flew towards the square leg boundary. In place was Jayasuriya again and had no difficulty holding on to his second catch of the match. The dismissal of Australian captain was the turning point of the match. Ranatunga immediately brought back Muralitharan to turn the screws.

Ponting and Steve Waugh were going nowhere against De Silva and Muralitharan who kept a very tight line. Five overs produced only 15 runs and Ponting backed away to cut sharply turning De Silva off break to be bowled middle stump.

Shane Warne strode to the wicket full of big hitting intent. Muralitharan was too much for him and could not read his turning and spinning and was neatly stumped down the leg side by Kaluwitharana.

Sturat Law and Steve Waugh joined in a worried assessment of the situation at drinks break of 4-166 from 34 overs. Whatever they planned did not good as Waught tried to chip Kumara Dharmasena over the infield in the next over only to loft the ball to De Silva near the long-on boundary.

Australian had lost 4 wickets for the addition of 33 runs in 8 overs. Worry threatened Bevan and Law as they survived for 5 overs but added only 9 runs against the accurate bowling of Sri Lankan spinners. After 40 overs Australia was 5-`78 and there had not been a boundary in the 13 overs since Taylor's dismissal.

This explains the kind of attack and the stranglehold Sri Lankan bowlers had over the mighty Australians - not forgetting the field placings of the astute leader.

The acceleration had to come and Law pulled Dharmasena clearly for a big six. However it was only a small charge and Ranatunga brought back Chaminda Vaas to arrest the situation. Law was caught at point by De Silva off Jayasuriya and Ian Healy played all over a full pitched delivery to give Aravinda his 3rd wicket, Bevan held the fort at one end in a partnership with Reiffel which included 18 runs from the last two overs. Ranatunga, who has marshelled his men and brought intelligent bowling changes walked off as a happy man restricting Australia to 241 for 7.

Sri Lanka opened with little Kalu and dashing Sanath. In the second over bowled by Damien Fleming, Jayasuriya went for a two to 3rd man taking McGrath's arm. He could not make it and was run out by the barest margin - may be 1/2cm.

Four overs later Kalu mistimed a pull off Fleming and Bevan ran round behind square leg umpire to hold the catch. That made the score board read 23-2. This brought Aravinda De Silva to the wicket much earlier than expected. Courageous and determined as ever De Silva started with two flowing extra cover drives beautifully timed that raised to the boundary. McGrath sent down a pressure packed spell that kept Gurusingha quiet for a few overs and De Silva was nearly run-out.

Fleming was wayward and this helped to reduce the pressure at one end. Taylor introduced Warne in the 11th over. Aravinda hit Warne through the off side for a four and followed it with a smashing cover drive that whisked back passed Bevan fielding at cover point.

When the fieldsmen moved back at the end of 15 overs Sri Lanka was 2-71. Gurusingha lofted Mark Waugh down the ground and Fleming sliding across the outfield missed the chance. The 100 was brought up in the 21st over as Gurusingha played an exquisite leg glance off Warne.

He then belted Warne for an amazing pull for six over long off. Both batsmen reached the half century mark and a prospect of a Sri Lankan Victory was mentioned by the TV and Radio commentators. After a partnership of 125 with De Silva, Gurusingha was still at the wicket. He tried to charge Paul Reiffel and was bowled.

His contribution of 65 was invaluable and laid the foundation for a Sri Lankan Victory. Aravinda at this stage was batting like a champion and no bowler was spared. He smacked McGrath off the front foot over square leg and hit Warne to midwicket for another four.

With the demise of Gurusingha came Ranatunga with 95 needed from 19 overs. The experienced pair battled sensibly not taking unnecessary risks but also ensuring that the run rate was within reach.

The 6th over bowled by Mark Waugh conceded 10 runs. Ranatunga played a stunning cover drive and scored another boundary off a neat glance bringing in memories of great Sir Garfield Sobers.

At the end of 40 overs Sri Lanka has raised to 192 which left 50 to be scored in last 10 overs. Ranatunga drove Shane Warne straight of four through his fingers and smashed a flipper away for a glorious six with immense power.

Taylor tried 7 bowlers but nothing worked for him. In the 44th over the Sri Lankan run machine Aravinda drove McGrath to mid off and joined the elite group of Viv Richards and Clive Llioyd to score a century in the final of a World Cup.

A neat glance for four off the 47th over bowled by McGrath took the Sri Lankans to reach 245. Entire Sri Lankan team and a large number of supporters invaded the ground and soon it was a sea of heads.

Aravinda battled majestically with a touch of masterful simplicity while Ranatunga's innings was a cameo filled with arrogance and power. Great batsmen play great innings. Aravinda De Silva's 107 stood out as one of the bests. He stole the limelight the man of the match award from the Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

With the well-wishes cheering, bands playing, happy and beaming Arjuna Ranatunga got into the podium to collect the bright shinning gold Wills World Cup. The entire team ran round the ground with each player carrying the precious trophy. May this be an inspiration to the present Sri Lankan side who are playing against the Australians during the months of August and September.