India - one day World Cricket Champs in Kandy

Hafiz MARIKAR

It is great to know that a champion Indian team is in Kandy, to play a ODI today and a T/20 on 7th where both games will be played at the Pallekelle Stadium.

All cricket lovers in Kandy will be looking forward to seeing the World one day champions in action.

In the good old days when we were kids, it was India the only Asian nation to play Test cricket. The second to come in was Pakistan, followed by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Memories of the Sri Lanka vs India inaugural test which took place at the Cheapuk Stadium in Madras, on September17, 18, 19, 21 and 22 1982, which was umpired by M.V. Gavaskar and Swaroopp Kishen.

In this Test, Sri Lanka's Duleep Mendis went on to score twin hundreds on his debut, 105 each on both innings. It was a treat to watch Duleep hammering world class bowlers such as Kapil Dev, Madan Lal, Dilip Doshi. From the Indian team debut hundreds came from Sunil Gavaskar and S.M. Patel.

The Sri Lanka side was led by Bandulla Warnapura and rest of the players were Duleep Mendis, Roy Dias, Mahes Goonatilake, Arjuna Ranatunga, Ranjan Madugalle, Anura Ranasinghe, D. S de Silva, Rumesh Ratnayake, Asantha de Mel and G.R. de Silva. And the J.B N. Perera was the 12th man. India was led by Sunil Gavaskar, the others were Arun Lal, D.B.Visanath, M. Patil, Yasphal Sahrma, Kapil Dev, Madan Lal S.M.H. Kirmani, Dilip Doshi, S.M. Patiel, S. Shukala and A. Malhotra 12th man.

In this inagural Test, a placid pitch helped the batsmen to amass runs easily and the bowlers took a heavy beating. Sri Lanka started the innings badly losing the first two wickets cheaply but some splendid batting by Duleep Mendis and Roy Dias saw 153 runs for the third wicket. It was Roy Dias, who was dismissed first afer making 60. Then again a minor collapse followed and from 164 for 3, two wickets fell and the score was 204 for 6 wickets.

It was Ranjan Madugalle and D.S. de Silva with a 77 run partnership for the seventh wicket that took Sri Lanka out of the woods. Then the ninth wicket produced 42 runs and Sri Lanka finished their innings on the second day morning by 10.45.

Sri Lanka's Duleep Mendis scored 105 runs. He hit a six, one five and 17 fours and was LBW to Dilip Doshi. He reached his hundred with a six. D.S. de Silva was bowled by Madan Lal for 49 and Rajan Madugalle made 46. Dilip Doshi had 5 wickets for 85 runs, Kapil Devi 3 for 97 and Madan Lal two for India.

When India batted skipper Sunil Gavaskar 122 not out and Arun Lal 30 not out put on 159 runs for the first wicket and Indian ended the second day on 251 for 1 in reply to Sri Lankas 346.

On day three - Sunil Gavaskar took the total to 329 with a partnership of 173 runs for the second wicket. G.R. Viswanath and Yashpal Sharma left after a short stay but Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar were associated in a stand of 85 runs for the sixth wicket. Sunil batted for six hours and 40 minutes for his 25th test century. This was followed by an unfinished 78 run paternership after which India declared there innings at 566 for 6 wickets.

Sunil Gavaskar 155 was caught at cover point off D.S.de Silva. S.M. Patel was unbeaten on 114, Arun Lal 63 and D.B. Vengsarkar 90 scored for India. Asantha de Mel 2 for 133, Romesh Ratnayake 1 for 61, D.S. de Silas 2 for 162, were the wicket takers for Sri Lanka.

Once again in their second innings Sri Lanka lost their first two wickets cheaply.

Again it was Duleep Mendis and Roy Dias, who rescued the innings. This time in a more aggressive fashion Roy scattered the Indian bowler and fielders by getting 50 in even time with twelve hits to the ropes and was first out after a twin century partnerhip again for the third wicket.

Roy made 97 solid runs, and he was well supported by Duleep Mendis who went on to score his second century 105. Duleep slowed down due to the early loss of Arjuna Ranatunga and Ranjan Madugalle, an allowed his new partner Anura Ranaisnghe to accelerate the scoring and added 89 runs.

The last three wickets Asantha de Mel, D.S. de Silva and Ajith de Silva added 103 runs leaving India to score 175 runs in 20 mandatory overs and 53 minutes.

This time Kapil Dev pocketed 5 wickets for 110 runs, Dilip Doshi 3 for 147 and Shukla 2 for 82.

Indians going for runs lost two wickets early But S.M. Patel and Kapil Dev gave them hopes of a win. But with their dismissals they closed shop and the match fizzled out into a draw. India in their second innings were able to score 135 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. S.M. Patel who was unbeaten on 114 in the first innings made 46 Kapil Dev 30, Yashpal Sharma 30. Asantha de Mel took 5 for 68 and D.S.de Silva 1 for 29. They had to score 175, at the end were 135 for 7. After this inaugural Test in 1982/83, Sri Lanka had to wait for three long years for the next Test that came in 1985/86 against India.

That series was a historic one for Sri Lanka, which saw the first ever test victory on September 11,1985 and it as Sri Lanka third test series after Test status. Sri Lanka scored a historic victory in the 14th Test match. This test victory come to Sri Lanka in a very short span of Test cricket compared to the other test playing countries.

This Indian tour to Sri Lanka began with a three-day game against the Board Presidents XI which was drawn. Former Royalist Sumtha Warnakulasuriya began the tour with 174 runs.

Sri Lanka made 385 and India replied with 296 D. Vengaskar scored 111. The next three day game was in Kandy at the Trinity College Grounds Asgiriya. In this game the best bat was Asanka Gurusinghe who scored 100 not out and Sidat Wettimuny made 83. Both the three day games ended in no decisions.

In the first Test two centuries came from Ranjan Madugalle 103 and Arjuna Ranatunga 111.

In this test for Sri Lanka Asantha de Mel and Rumesh Ratnayake bowled best, Asantha 5 for 64, Romesh 6 for 55 in the second innings. D.B.Vengsaarkar was not out 98.

The second Test was won by Sri Lanka In this test Roy Dias 60 and Aravinda de Silva 75 gave Sri Lanka helped Sri Lanka to their first test win. The third ended in a draw and the game gave Sri Lanka their First Test Series.