The present World Champions are having a really bad time. Sri Lanka have now lost 15 of their 20 matches in the season. The absence of Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Mutthiah Muralitharan seems to be showing as they prepare to defend their title in England soon.

Their defeat against India at Pune on Tuesday was their fourth against India in as many matches in 1998-99, and three of them have been when they were chasing a target (batting second): quite unheard of not in recent past with the guns of Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana blazing.

After winning the triangular tournament in England (the third team was South Africa) in summer, they have been beaten in the 'Mini World Cup' in Bangladesh, they could not one even one match at Sharjah against India and Zimbabwe, were the worst performers in the Carlton and United Series in Australia, and now in the Pepsi Cup: thus not reaching even one final out of four. The following table says it all.

Sri Lanka: Match-by-match record in 1998-99

 No Vs  Ground       Date       Won By         T B For Score   Vs Score

Wills International Cup in Bangladesh

  1 NZ  Dhaka        26/10/1998 SL   5  Wkts   W L 191- 5 44.0 188-10 54.0
  2 SA  Dhaka        30/10/1998 SA   92 Runs   W L 132- 9 27.0 240- 7 39.0

Coca-Cola Champions Trophy in Sharjah

  3 Ind Sharjah      06/11/1998 Ind  3  Wkts   L F 245- 7 50.0 248- 7 50.0
  4 Zim Sharjah      07/11/1998 Zim  7  Wkts   L F 196-10 49.4 197- 3 46.1
  5 Ind Sharjah      09/11/1998 Ind  81 Runs   W L  98-10 39.0 179-10 54.0
  6 Zim Sharjah      10/11/1998 Zim  24 Runs   W L 235-10 48.5 259- 7 50.0

Carlton and United Series in Australia

  7 Eng Brisbane     11/01/1999 Eng  4  Wkts   W F 207- 7 50.0 208- 6 52.0
  8 Aus Sydney       13/01/1999 Aus  8  Wkts   W F 259- 9 50.0 260- 2 47.0
  9 Eng Melbourne    19/01/1999 Eng  7  Wkts   W F 186-10 50.0 189- 3 47.0
 10 Aus Hobart (2)   21/01/1999 SL   3  Wkts   W L 211- 7 52.0 210- 9 50.0
 11 Eng Adelaide     23/01/1999 SL   1  Wkts   W L 303- 9 53.0 302- 3 50.0
 12 Aus Adelaide     24/01/1999 Aus  80 Runs   W L 190-10 45.0 270-10 50.0
 13 Eng Perth        29/01/1999 Eng 128 Runs   W L  99-10 35.0 227- 7 50.0
 14 Aus Perth        31/01/1999 Aus  45 Runs   W L 229- 9 49.0 274- 7 50.0
 15 Eng Sydney       03/02/1999 SL   11 Runs   L F 181- 7 44.0 170- 9 44.0
 16 Aus Melbourne    07/02/1999 Aus  43 Runs   L L 267-10 48.0 310- 8 50.0

Pepsi Cup in India

 17 Pak Jamshedpur   19/03/1999 Pak   9 Runs   L L 237-10 52.0 246- 9 50.0
 18 Ind Nagpur       22/03/1999 Ind  80 Runs   W L 207-10 38.0 287- 4 50.0
 19 Pak Vishakhap'am 27/03/1999 SL   12 Runs   W F 253- 8 50.0 241-10 49.0
 20 Ind Pune         30/03/1999 Ind  51 Runs   W L 235-10 45.5 286- 6 50.0

Note:

T - Toss (W)on/(L)ost, B - Batted (F)irst/(L)ast

For Score - Sri Lanka's score, Vs Score - Opposite team's score


Results Summary for the season so far

Against                   Matches Won  Lost  NR   Td   Success %

New Zealand                  1       1    0    0    0  100.00
Pakistan                     2       1    1    0    0   50.00
England                      5       2    3    0    0   40.00
Australia                    5       1    4    0    0   20.00
India                        4       0    4    0    0    0.00
South Africa                 1       0    1    0    0    0.00
Zimbabwe                     2       0    2    0    0    0.00
                                                             
TOTAL                       20       5   15    0    0   25.00

Contributed by: Atul Kahate (AKahate@yahoo.com)