World Cup 2011 Photos

1996: Lankans defy all logics

February 06, 2011 19:47

The Sri Lankans used the sub-continent conditions well to use spin bowling, pinch-hitting and some well implemented tactics to remain unbeaten in the tournament.

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With the World Cup coming back to the sub-continent, the excitement amongst the three participating Asian countries was stupendous. The stadia were jam-packed to their capacity and none of the intrusions could prevent the island nation of Sri Lanka to claim the title.

The 1996 World Cup in the sub-continent will be remembered as much for Sri Lanka's victory with bold and innovative batting tactics as for boycotts and riots.

Arjuna Ranatunga's Sri Lankans celebrated when Aravinda de Silva cracked a classy hundred to steer his team to a seven-wicket victory over Mark Taylor's Australians in the day-night final at Lahore. (Photo: Getty Images)
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The Sri Lankans used the sub-continent conditions well to employ spin bowling, pinch-hitting and some well implemented tactics to remain unbeaten in the tournament. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Sri Lanka were assured of winning two matches even before the first ball had been bowled as both Australia and the West Indies refused to play their opening games in the island nation due to security reasons. (Photo: Getty Images)
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The opening ceremony at Calcutta was a fiasco. Nearly 100,000 spectators at the Eden Gardens were left disappointed when what was promised a grand technological show virtually flopped due to malfunctioning of lasers.

It turned out to be a minor aberration when compared to the riots at the same venue during the semi-final between India and Sri Lanka. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Sri Lanka made the most of the 15-overs fielding restrictions, thanks to openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana who demoralised the opposition with over-the-top hitting.

The tactics stood Sri Lanka in good stead and Jayasuriya was named man of the tournament for redefining batting in the opening 15 overs. Jayasuriya slammed a blazing 44-ball 82 in the first quarter-final to help his team beat Mike Atherton's Englishmen at Faisalabad, only the first time England had failed to reach the semi-finals. Photo: Getty Images)
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Hansie Cronje's South Africans had been moving menacingly before running into in-form Brian Lara, who hammered a brisk century to set up the West Indies' victory at Karachi. (Photo: Getty Images)
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India, who had beaten Pakistan in the quarter-finals, were facing defeat against Sri Lanka at 120-8 chasing 252 when disturbances began. (Photo: Getty Images)
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The spectators, annoyed with the hosts' dismal batting show, threw missiles on to the field and lit fires in the stands, forcing match-referee Clive Lloyd of the West Indies to award the game to Sri Lanka.

India had lost not only a game of cricket, but also much of their reputation as a sporting nation because that was the first match in the World Cup history to be abandoned due to riots. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Such was the format that qualifying chances of Australia and the West Indies were not affected after forfeiting the opening games. Twelve sides were divided into two groups, with the top four advancing to the quarter-finals. (Photo: Getty Images)
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New Zealand threatened Australia when they rode on Chris Harris's century to post a challenging 286. But Australian Mark Waugh made his third hundred of the tournament at the right time to script his team's victory. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Sri Lanka played the final as if they had to settle a score with Australia. Ranatunga defied history when he put the opposition in after winning the toss, for no team had previously won the Cup chasing a target.

Australia were 137-1 after a century stand between Taylor (74) and Ricky Ponting (45) before Ranatunga restricted them to 241 by cleverly using his spinners. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Australia dismissed the Sri Lankan openers cheaply, but Aravinda received valuable support from Asanka Gurusinha (65) and Ranatunga (47 not out) to steer his team home. (Photo: Getty Images)

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