After a fielding display that the Lankans would want to quickly forget, where they allowed the Pakistanis an imposing score of 280, Jayasuriya and de Silva joined forces to completely destroy the feared Pakistani attack and take Sri Lanka to a convincing win, which at one stage looked a bit difficult when they lost Atapattu and Mahanama with the score on 68.
Pepsi Cola who have signed on Jayasuriya on a three-year contract to promote their drink must be bubbling over with their productive signing and from now on Jayasuriya will be humming 'I love Pepsi'.
There is no doubt that Jayasuriya and de Silva are two of the best batsmen, if not the two best in the game of cricket be it Test or One-Dayers. Against the Pakistani attack comprising the feared Akram, Younis, Saqlain, Afridi and Mahmoood, they showed their natural batting instincts as they bashed the attack to all corners of the field and over it as well as and when they wanted and with little effort.
Jayasuriya and de Silva put in a batting display that would have shamed even the famous West Indies (not the present) because they are not worth talking about other than for Lara but the former batting stars such as Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Frank Warrel, Weekes, Rohan Kanhai, Cammie Smith, Clive Lloyd and Vivian Richards to mention a few, who were priceless to the game.
Today there is no doubt that batsmen of the calibre of Jayasuriya, de Silva, Ranatunga and Mahanama are the hottest going properties in the game. The mere mention that they are playing brings crowds breaking turnstiles to see their magical strokeplay.
The arrogant manner in which Jayasuriya and de Silva caned the Pakistani attack would have had millions wondering when this stinging attack last suffered such humiliation. Skipper Akram seemed to be like a 'little boy lost' and would have been wondering why he had to suffer such torment after only recently reclaiming the captaincy.
Jayasuriya who made an unbeaten 134 and de Silva an undefeated 102, were associated in a record-breaking stand of 213 for the third wicket. While the Jayasuriya _ de Silva batting magic show was on, what joy and delight it gave listeners and TV viewers all over the globe and those at the grounds.
It was champagne cricket. Every stroke from the book and from out of it as well was exhibited as these two batting giants wended their merry way making the bowling look village green stuff and picking gaping holes in the field.
Once again the umpiring left much to be desired in this game. Umpire Ian Robinson of Zimbabwe was once again in the midst of controversy. There was no doubt to everyone that Afridi was run out early in his innings. But Robinson who boobed in New Zealand when he ruled Kaluwitharne out after an appeal for a catch when the ball lodged between bat and thigh, ruled the batsman not out without consulting the third umpire! Probably Robinson would have thought he knows better than the third umpire.
For once the Lankan fielding which has always been world class fell to pieces in this game. That was a surprise. Obviously the fielders would have lost their concentration owing to the deafening noise made by the spectators. But that is no excuse.
'Catches win matches' is an old adage. It is said that dropped catches do not necessarily mean losing a game. But it can make winning that much more difficult and this was amply demonstrated in this game.
And now to the finals. All the best to Ranatunga and his warriors on Saturday.