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De Silva wins it for Lanka

1996, Gaddafi Stadium: Led by the portly Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka emulated their South Asian neighbours India and Pakistan by clinching cricket’s greatest prize when they beat former champions Australia easily by seven wickets in Lahore.

The conquerors of India in the semi finals at the Eden Gardens restricted the strong Australian line-up to 241 for 7, after Ranatunga had put the opposition in to bat because of the dew factor. by R Prasad | Direct Link

Man-in-form Aravinda De Silva claimed three wickets with his off breaks for 42 and also took two catches. His victims included rival skipper Mark Taylor, who led the way with 74, and Ricky Ponting, who came one-down to hit 45.

De Silva slowed the Australian run-rate by breaking the second wicket duo’s 101-run partnership besides providing splendid back-up for frontline off spinner Muttiah Muralidaran who was as parsimonious as ever in taking 1 for 31 in his full quota of ten.

Australia, who had stopped the West Indies in a thriller in the semis, were at one stage cruising towards the 300 mark, when Murali and Man of the Match De Silva put the skids.

In the run-chase De Silva then came up with a match-winning and solid innings of 107 after the opening combine of Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana were packed off with the total reading only 23.

Left-handed stroke-maker Asanka Gurusinha gave De Silva support with a knock of 65 and their century partnership, which was worth a handy 125 runs helped the Emerald Islanders overhaul the Australian score with quite a bit to spare.

Glenn McGrath was splendid as ever with figures of 1 for 28 but the other Aussie bowlers, especially leg-spin great Shane Warne, struggled to grip the dew-laden wet ball and were played comfortably by the two Lankan batsmen.