Former great Aravinda de Silva reminisces the 1998 Nidahas Trophy where he was adjudged the Player of the Series.
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There’s always pleasure in beating the big brother. Everton love beating Manchester United, All Blacks love thrashing the Wallabies and the biggest satisfaction in sports for Sri Lankan fans is to see their team overcoming India. The mid-90s gave us an overdose of these happy moments starting from the 1996 World Cup semi-final. A year later, Sri Lanka won India’s Independence Cup – a quadrangular tournament – overcoming Pakistan in the final at Eden Gardens.
In 1998, Sri Lanka were hosting their Independence Trophy as part of the golden jubilee independence celebrations. ‘Singer’ boss Hemaka Amarasuriya came up with a generous sponsorship and it was known as ‘Singer Akai Nidahas Trophy’ with New Zealand and India participating. The event was keenly contested and Sri Lanka and India qualified for the finals played at RPS.
Read : Aravinda steps down from Cricket Committee
Sourav Ganguly (109) and Sachin Tendulkar (128) put on a World Record 252 runs for the first wicket and India went on to pile up a huge 307 for six in their 50 overs. Those days 300 plus totals were hard to chase and not many teams had done that. But it was also a period when nothing was impossible for the Sri Lankans, especially if you had an Aravinda de Silva in your ranks.
“We were a very strong side those days. However, chasing 300 was no easy task in the 1990s and most teams would succumb to scoreboard pressure. It used to be a very safe total. There weren’t too many fielding restrictions and at RPS, generally the boundaries were right behind and it was tough to score boundaries as well. So you had to pick up ones and twos,” De Silva opened up speaking to Sunday Island.
Sanath Jayasuriya (32) and Romesh Kaluwitharana (24) gave the side an electrifying start adding 59 runs for the first wicket in 50 deliveries. Aravinda batted at number three and kept up the momentum. Among those in the crowd was his dad Sam de Silva and Aravinda treated the packed audience with some elegant drives and flicks earlier on and then came the powerful cuts and pulls. His century came off just 90 deliveries. With 36 runs required in 39 deliveries with five wickets in hand, another famous Sri Lankan win was on the cards.
But Aravinda aggravated a groin injury towards the latter part of his innings and required a runner. His innings ended when he attempted to loft Ajit Agarkar, but couldn’t get the elevation and was caught at mid-on by Harbhajan Singh.
Sri Lanka collapsed under pressure. Nine runs were required off the last over, but Agarkar, who picked up four wickets bowled a clever last over to deny Sri Lanka a victory and Aravinda’s effort – a fine 105 off 94 deliveries went in vain as Sri Lanka fell short by seven runs.
“It was a forgettable day for us. We came so close, but couldn’t finish it off. Although it was tough, we had great self belief in the team’s ability and we almost got there. Even if you make a half-century and if the team wins, you remember that knock very well whereas when you have scored a hundred and if the team loses, that’s for no avail. But it taught me a very good lesson,” Aravinda elaborated.
Sri Lanka’s dramatic collapse saw five wickets falling for 29 runs. What just exactly did Aravinda learn from the game?
“Well, the bitter lesson I had learnt was to finish it off and not to leave it for others. I realised the mistake I made. I learned and improved.”
Should the other batters have finished off the game with Aravinda having done his part? “Look, we had some remarkable match winners. But what happens is when you have a big partnership and when you lose a wicket, especially if the track is turning, then it becomes tough for the new guys to settle in quickly. India had some quality spinners in Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. Then, there is always the big-match pressure. That is why it is important for the set batsmen to finish it off and I should have finished it off.”
Despite the defeat, Aravinda was named Player of the Series. He accumulated 368 runs in five innings with a hundred and three fifties. Tendulkar finished a distant second with 263 runs.
The lessons Aravinda learnt was showcased in Sri Lanka’s very next assignment as he played a crucial role in their triumph in the tri-nation Emirates Cup tournament where Sri Lanka overcame England in the final, of all places, at Lord’s.
