#2 India v Sri Lanka, 1996 ODI World Cup Semi-Final
The ODI World Cup of 1996 was co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Team India was a very strong side and one of the favorites to lift the trophy. On the other hand, opposite to the expectations, Sri Lanka carried the tag of being the underdogs and made it to the semi-final. It was India v Sri Lanka in the first semi-final hosted by the Eden Gardens Kolkata.
Sri Lanka were put into bat and Javagal Srinath pegged them back early by removing the top 3 for only 35 runs. Due to some gutsy batting by Aravinda de Silva and Roshan Mahanama, they kept themselves in the game. The captain Arjuna Ranatunga, supported by the tail-enders took his side to a respectable 251/8 from 50 overs.
India lost an early wicket in the form of Navjot Singh Siddhu. But Sachin Tendulkar took the matters into his own hands gave the opposition a nightmare. He thrashed every bowler and single-handedly took the score close to the 3-figure mark. He had crossed his fifty and India looked well set to chase down the target.
But Sanath Jayasuriya got him out stumped for 65 in the 23rd over. It proved to be a massive blow for India as the batsmen that followed showed no resistance. From 98/2, they crumbled to 120/8. The crowd could not take it and they put the stands on fire and there was absolute chaos.
Bottles were thrown on the ground which forced the umpires to call off the match and Sri Lanka were declared the winners. Vinod Kambli, who was still at the crease, had to leave the ground in tears. As it turned out, Sri Lanka defeated Australia in the final and won their first ever World title.
Match Summary
India won the toss and opted to bowl first
Sri Lanka:Â 251/8 in 50 overs
Aravinda de Silva 66 (47), Roshan Mahanama 58 (101)
Javagal Srinath 34/3 (7), Sachin Tendulkar 34/2 (10)
India:Â 120/8 in 34.1 overs
Sachin Tendulkar 65 (88), Sanjay Manjrekar 25 (48)
Sanath Jayasuriya 12/3 (7), Aravinda de Silva 3/1 (2)
Sri Lanka won by default
Player of the Match: Aravinda de Silva