Page 8 - Seniorstoday December 2022 Issue
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by English talent, but superior tactics. looked invincible entering the semi-final
Knowing India’s bowling strength lay against Sri Lanka. The Lankans were an
in spin, England captain Graham Gooch exciting young side, but surely India,
reworked preparations for the match playing at home, would be just too strong.
by inviting local spinners to bowl at his When Javagal Srinath dismissed
batsmen in the nets. The batsmen were dangerous openers Jayasuria and
also encouraged to counter turn with the Kaluwitharana in the first over, India
sweep: a somewhat risky stroke but which had taken a stranglehold immediately. A
could throw the bowlers off their rhythm blazing half century by Aravinda de Silva
In the match, Gooch led from the front pulled his team out of a crisis. Sri Lanka
making a marvellous century, countering finally reached 251-8, a respectable score,
the threat of Maninder Singh and Ravi but hardly good enough to stymie the
Shastri with his sweep strokes. India failed strong Indian batting.
to find a response to the tactic in time, With Sachin Tendulkar showing
didn’t change line or length and England immaculate touch, India looked to be
ended up making 254 for 6. When India coasting to an easy win. Then, suddenly,
batted, England’s spinners John Emburey things started going haywire.
and Eddie Hemmings gave an object Tendulkar was dismissed for 65 at 98.
lesson on how to bowl on such a pitch. Incredibly, a further 6 wickets fell for just
India were bundled out for 219. This was 22 runs! The Sri Lanka spinners exploited
the last international match played by the wearing pitch skillfully, aided and
Suni Gavaskar and the last time Kapil Dev abetted by timid, pusillanimous batting.
captained the country. Seeing the abject capitulation, irate
spectators at the Eden Garden erupted,
v Sri Lanka, Calcutta, 1996 World Cup, throwing debris on to the ground. Play
SL 251-8, India 120-8, Lanka won by was stopped, frantic attempts were made
default. to restart the match, but the hostile crowds
were unrelenting. Vinod Kambli, walking
off the field in tears became symptomatic of
India’s shocking surrender. Sri Lanka went
on to win the title beating Australia in the
final.
v Bangladesh, Queen’s Park Oval, 2007
World Cup India 191, B’desh 192-5
After beating Pakistan in style in an
emotion-charged quarter-final, India
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