Sri Lanka can still emerge champions

Elmo Rodrigopulle

18 August 1998


The Sri Lankan cricketers performed to perfection in every aspect of the game to beat South Africa convincingly in the first Emirates Triangular tourney at Trent Bridge on Friday, but surprisingly slumped in every aspect against England to go down by 36 runs.

The cricketers who have now acclimatised themselves to the fickle conditions in England have now settled down to playing at their best and if they do not allow complacency to set in we see no reason why they should not pocket this triangular series and even come off best in the one-off test at the Oval.

When the Lankans took on the South Africans on Friday, they had a score to settle. They were undone on a treacherous wicket at Bloemfontein which deprived Sri Lanka from entering the triangular series final there early this year.

The Lankans in getting the Proteas to come second best showed and proved that had they been given a wicket fit for this type of cricket at Bloemfontein they would have come off the better side on that day too as they underlined at Trent Bridge.

However what was apparent in these two games was the excellent team spirit that prevailed. Not for a long time did the Lankans play together as a team. But on this tour they seem to be one happy family, with urgency in their game and the will to do well.

When this type of harmony prevails it makes the job of the captain that much easier and every member of the team continues to enjoy what he is doing. If this is an indication then it is a happy augury for the game and those who matter must see to it that the excellent spirit remains.

Merciless assault

When Hansie Cronje asked the Lankans to bat, he never bargained for the merciless assault that Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharne launched on his pace attack. Pollock and Donald especially are two of the most feared bowlers in any type of cricket. But the arrogant manner in which Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharne took them apart made them look up and downers on that day.

After this calculated assault the Lankans lost their way somewhat in the middle of the innings. But generalissimo Ranatunga along with the consistent and stylish Atapattu paved the way for the Lankans to get past the 250 mark, which on paper did not look a formidable score for the strong batting line of the South Africans.

Pramodya silences his critics

But the South African early batting ran into a spell of superb and well controlled seam and swing bowling by Pramodaya Wickremasinghe who cocked a snook at his detractors who unjustly took him to task.

Selectors Duleep Mendis, Asantha de Mel, T. B. Kehelgamuwa and K. M. Nelson along with coach Roy Dias and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga were convinced that when they placed their bet on Wickremasinghe they were backing a winner. And he obliged.

Celebrates birthday in style

Pramodaya celebrated his birthday in style after former South African champion all-rounder Mike Procter adjudged him the man of the match for his match winning burst with the new ball. This writer too applauded Wickremasinghe's selection.

The South Africans seem to be an utterly disjointed team. When they arrived in England their ambition was to beat England in the Test series and endeavouring to emerge the top test playing nation. But what has come of their game is unacceptable. We hope they will soon get back to their winning ways.

Magnificent fight-back

England were blazing away at 223 for three after Ranatunga sent them in. Even though the Sri Lankans allowed their fielding and bowling to slack, they fought back magnificently to capture 7 English wickets in 35 deliveries and 24 runs and restrict the opponents to 247.

But with Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharne failing to get the Lankans off to a flier, it was left to the captain and vice captain combination of Ranatunga and De Silva to raise their hopes. Atapattu and De Silva were unlucky to be ruled out LBW.

The English bowlers especially Martin, Gough and Mullally gave a lesson in brilliant seam and swing bowling to lure the Lankans to defeat. But the Lankans need not be disappointed. They showed that they have it in them to beat the best of teams. They must believe in themselves.

Now that they are in the final on a better run rate. Victory must be the bottom line against whoever they confront in the final.

Aravinda did a grand job substituting for Arjuna who was injured. Sri Lanka are lucky to have such master tacticians.


Source: The Daily News

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Date-stamped : 18 Aug1998 - 06:25