Tharanga’s triumph over adversity

Richard Dwight

There's a light upon the mountain and the day is at a break and the unsophisticated, less flamboyant Sri Lankan opening batsman, Upul Tharanga, was going through his preliminaries – for sooner than later, he knew, that he would have to open the innings with the sedate, smooth as silk Mahela, who is found to be calmness personified.

It was the third match in the tri-series in the Caribbean, against the all-round formidable Indians, whose prestige kept on soaring even before they won the last of the cups, that were presented by ICC in England recently-as a prelude to this cramped tri-nation series.

India really had a good side with a wide array of potentially attractive batsmen, the guile and craftiness of spinners and, the menacing hostile bowling of pace, that could keep you alert and lucky to be out of harm.

Upul Tharanga, although having previously scored 12 ODI hundreds, lacked consistency, he performed off and on and, this innings was to prove decisive, as to whether he should remain in the national squad or not.

It is in this frame of mind that, Upul accompanied by Mahela went onto to open the Sri Lankan innings. Our cricket at that moment was at a low, and we did not take the action on the TV screen.

“But then a light surprises” and our eyes see the Sri Lankan scoreline read 41 for no loss on the TV screen. This did it and all hell broke loose within the few who remained glued to the TV in the room.

The cock-a-hoop Indians, the strong star studded champion outfit despite Dhoni, had begun to sulk and give way to wilting. This could be understood in the rapid rate at which runs were being scored, by both Tharanga and Mahela. The Indians were taken aback to be overwhelmed, and we as well, were for too surprised.

Mahela who fits in as an opener in the one dayers, for otherwise he is the two drop in the ‘Big Un’ – but here notwithstanding the restrictions in the overs, Mahela batted with characteristic, grace and charm to elegantly keep driving 9 fours and lifting 2 sixes in a score of 107. Whilst the much neglected Upul Tharanga, who can mix caution and aggression in equal measure-tore into the attack with a vengeance that had the Indian bowlers making retreat, for him to be unbeaten on 174, his 13th ODI with 19 fours and 3 sixes.

Enjoying a broken partnership of 213 with Mahela as the opening stand and an unbroken 135 stand with skipper Mathews who made 44. Against Sri Lanka's huge score of 348 for 1, India crumbled for 187 in 44.5 to concede defeat.

Sri Lanka cannot make vain boast of its bowling for we do not really have tight fast bowlers with the occasional bounce, our spinner Herath could afford to lose weight around the waist and the off spinner Senanayake could put more pep and life into his bowling with purpose and meaning.

The skipper is the pivot of the side, he should be able to size up and strategies situations as they arise. Oozing with confidence he must be forward looking and put on a bold front, even if you need to bluff.

Cricket is indeed a way of life and, the one apart from money who cares to learn from it, will surely realise its value in the end.

As I think of this win I am reminded of the saying “He that is strong is made weak, and he that is weak is made strong.”