Sports

Sri Lanka’s 1996 fairytale still defies the odds

Published

1 month ago

2026/03/18

Arjuna Ranatunga won the battle against Shane Warne, not just with runs but with words too.

As Sri Lanka marked the 30th anniversary of their Cricket World Cup triumph, the odds they overcame remain the stuff of cricketing folklore. Barely 15 years into their journey as a full member of the ICC, they didn’t just compete – they turned the game on its head, blindsiding the cricketing world with a brand of cricket that was as audacious as it was effective.

With field restrictions in place for the first 15 overs, Sri Lanka cashed in like seasoned pros at the top of their game. They went after bowlers with a nothing-to-lose attitude, throwing caution to the wind and runs on the board. By the time opponents tried to plug the gaps, the horse had well and truly bolted, the damage was already done.

Arjuna Ranatunga had long been tipped for greatness. Sir Garry Sobers, Sri Lanka’s first coach after gaining Test status, had earmarked him as one to watch. While Ranatunga’s contributions with the bat were invaluable, it was his leadership that truly set him apart, a skipper who knew how to marshal his troops and bring out the best in each of them.

A towering presence in Sri Lankan cricket, Ranatunga, much like Imran Khan in 1992 was handed the reins and the freedom to build a side in his own image. More than half a dozen players in that World Cup squad hailed from outstations, many of them taken under the captain’s wing and housed in his own home, a gesture that spoke volumes of the unity and trust within the camp.

“I was very lucky to have guys like Duleep Mendis, Roy Dias and Ranjan Madugalle working closely with the team. We had developed this side for about two years and our batting unit from number one to number seven had collectively played over 1000 ODIs. We knew no team could match that,” Ranatunga told Telecom Asia Sport.

For Ranatunga, success was about spotting raw talent and backing it to the hilt.

“It was clear to me there was a lot of hidden talent in the outstations. You had to identify them and give them confidence. Take Sanath Jayasuriya; in his early years he struggled. I think he had just one half-century in his first 50 games. But we knew what he was capable of. Once he got his confidence, he was unstoppable,” he said.

Sri Lanka’s triumph was not built on luck or favourable conditions, it was forged in the fire of big-match pressure. They beat India twice in their own backyard, a feat that underlined their dominance.

“Why our win is special is because we beat India twice in that tournament, in their own backyard. They had a very strong side, but we outplayed them. Aravinda’s knocks in the semi-final and final were sensational. At that point, he was the best player in the world and I was fortunate to have played alongside him,” Ranatunga recalled.

The ICC recently presented Sri Lankan players
with medallions to mark the World Cup win.

Until 1996, Sri Lanka had never made it past the first hurdle in a World Cup. But in that tournament, they were unstoppable, brushing aside England in the quarter-finals, overwhelming India in the semis and then outplaying a formidable Australian outfit in the final.

Ranatunga, never one to shy away from a verbal duel, believed that taking the fight to Australia was half the battle won.

“I always tried to get under the Australians’ skin. I knew that if you gave it back to them, they could crack under pressure,” he said.

There was much chatter ahead of the final about how Sri Lanka would handle Shane Warne. But Ranatunga had his cards in place.

“We had four left-handers in the top seven, so we knew we could counter him. Australia rely on building dot-ball pressure when wickets don’t come. But we handled it well. Asanka Gurusinha stepped out to Warne and hit a few boundaries and from there, we had the chase under control.”

Three decades on, that triumph still stands tall, not just as a victory, but as a turning point. It was the day Sri Lanka didn’t just win a World Cup, but rewrote the script of one-day cricket, proving that even the underdogs can have the last laugh if they are willing to play with courage, conviction and a touch of madness.

(Telecom Asia Sport)

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Sports

Well done AKD!

Published

19 mins ago

2026/04/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva had outlasted three Executive Presidents – Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe – and looked set to see off the new ball from Anura Kumara Dissanayake as well. For a while, it seemed like he had the measure of every spell thrown at him. But this time, the batter has edged one and walked.

The new government, elected on a platform of transparency and good governance, had been accused of shadow batting when it came to cleaning up cricket. There were murmurs in the stands, and not without reason. Eyebrows were raised when political heavyweights like Wasantha Samarasinghe – who wouldn’t know a short leg from a fine leg – were regulars at SLC gatherings. It gave the impression that the field placements hadn’t changed.

But in the end, President Dissanayake played it late and played it well. Timing, as they say in cricket, is everything and this was a shot straight out of the middle.

The Island learns that the government had been itching to make a move earlier, but were wary of playing a false stroke. With Shammi’s close links to ICC chair Jay Shah, there was a genuine fear of another suspension – a scenario Sri Lanka had already endured two years ago when Shammi was removed. Rather than charge down the track, the government chose to bide its time, build its case and wait for the right delivery.

When the moment arrived, they didn’t swing wildly. Instead, they tossed the ball back into Shammi’s court and invited him to take the honourable route. He did and like a collapsing batting order, the rest of the committee followed him back to the pavilion.

Crucially, Sri Lanka Cricket avoids the follow-on of an ICC suspension. This was a resignation, not a dismissal, a technicality that could prove decisive. Shammi, who had just one year left in his term, was reportedly exploring ways to extend his stay at the crease. With some of the country’s top legal minds at his disposal, tweaking the playing conditions was child’s play for him.

Now the spotlight shifts to the government. They must make a watertight case to justify extending the three-month window for fresh elections. Others have trodden this path before, South Africa managed it successfully and Bangladesh are currently following suit with ICC backing.

If handled well, it could buy Sri Lanka the time needed to bring long-pending reforms into play notably the recommendations of the Justice Chithrasiri report, which has been gathering dust.

Attention is already turning to the next innings. Former cricketer and ex-parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne has emerged as the frontrunner to head the interim committee, especially after former NOC boss Suresh Subramaniam opted out due to health concerns.

Another name doing the rounds is Kushil Gunasekara, a respected figure in international cricketing circles. A former Ananda College cricketer, Gunasekara played a key role as head of the organising committee for the 2000 Under-19 World Cup and he is no stranger at ICC. His off-field work, particularly in his native Seenigama, has earned widespread admiration, including honorary life membership at Marylebone Cricket Club.

For now, though, the headline belongs to AKD. After a long watch and a patient build-up, he has finally broken through, a wicket that had been a long time coming. This is a big fish indeed.

by Rex Clementine

Sports

Senuja, Rishma rescue Joes after early struggle

Published

21 mins ago

2026/04/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Senuja Wakunegoda

St. Joseph’s College produced a spirited recovery after an early batting collapse to reach 226 for four at stumps against Royal College on a rain-curtailed opening day of the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket final played at the P. Sara Oval on Tuesday.

‎Having elected to bat first, the Josephians were rocked in the early exchanges as they slumped to 11 for three within the space of just three overs. Royal’s pace spearhead Mahiru Kodituwakku did the early damage, striking twice in a fiery opening spell to put Joes under severe pressure.

‎However, the innings was revived in emphatic fashion by a crucial fourth wicket partnership between Senuja Wakunegoda and skipper Rishma Amarasinghe. The duo combined resilience with positive stroke play to add a match-defining 179 runs, occupying the crease for 44 overs and steadily shifting the momentum.

‎Batting through testing phases before and after lunch, the pair frustrated the Royal bowling attack with disciplined shot selection and composure. Amarasinghe, leading from the front, compiled a fluent 73 off 120 deliveries, striking nine fours and two sixes before being dismissed. He was eventually separated from his partner by Dushen Udawela.

‎Wakunegoda, who anchored the innings superbly, remained unbeaten on 118 at tea after which there was no resumption of play due to a drizzle and lightning.

‎His knock came off 178 balls and included 12 boundaries and two sixes, highlighting both patience and authority. He found support towards the end from Chethina Kavinda, who was unbeaten on 15 as Joes finished the day in a relatively better position than what was expected after early collapse.

‎After a disastrous start, St. Joseph’s will take plenty of confidence from their recovery, while Royal will look to strike early on the second day to claw their way back into the contest.

Scores: ‎St. Joseph’s College –

226/4 in 61 overs (Senuja Wakunegoda 118*; Rishma Amarasinghe 73; Mahiru Kodituwakku 2/64) (RF)

Sports

Maliban Biscuits and Mobitel complete league stage undefeated

Published

22 mins ago

2026/04/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

15TH STAFFORD MOTORS – MCA G DIVISION T20 LEAGUE CRICKET TOURNAMENT

Maliban Biscuits ‘B’ and Mobitel Pvt Limited completed the league stage of the Stafford Motors sponsored MCA G division T20 cricket tournament undefeated.

On Sunday Maliban Biscuits ‘B’ overcame CDB ‘B’ by four wickets to top group A undefeated while Mobitel Pvt Limited beat Union Bank by 58 runs to top group E with six wins in six outings.

In the other games played on Sunday, Hayleys Group ‘C’, Wiley Global, VS Information systems, Sri Lanka Telecom, and DSI Group registered wins.

With only three more league stage games to be completed, MAS Active Kreeda, Star Garments, Amana Bank, VS Information Systems and Brandix Apparel lead their respective groups.

At Darley Road

Gihan and Adeesha power Hayleys Group ’C’ to a 49 run win

Hayleys Group ‘C’

196/4 in 20 overs [Gihan Gunatilake 92, Adeesha Jayarathne 52, Omath Gallage 11, Dilan Suraweera 16*; Tharindu Almeida 2-26, Wageesha Balagama 1-43, Ashan Wijerathne 1-36]

Jetwing Travels

147/6 in 20 overs[Edirige Sam 15, Budhdhika Chathuranga 10, Satheesh Sasu 26, Ashan Wijerathne 23, Wageesha Balagama 35, Tharuka Peiris 25*, Chandika Jayarathna 13*; Lasantha Prabath 2-16, Deemantha Weerakoon 3-35, Pasindu Adithya 1-21]

At MCA grounds

Mobitel Pvt Ltd beat Union Banka by 58 runs

Mobitel Pvt Ltd

211/3 in 20 overs [Krishan Santhusha 78, Dasun Bandara 24, Sachin Indrarathna 26, Sachin Bulathsinghala 11, Sandeepa Halangoda 65*; Kasun Dilshan 1-45, Gavin Fernando 1-21, Ayeshan Perera 1-34]

Union Bank

153/7 in 20 overs [Gavin Fernando 26, Nishan Maduranga 48, Ayeshan Perera 17, George Banushanth 21, Isanka Rathnayake 16*; Sachin Indrarathne 1-25, Lakmal Siriwardena 1-25, Dinidu Samodana 3-16, Dasun Bandara 1-08, Indushan Basnayake 1-07]

Wiley Global beat Acuity Analytics by 27 runs

Wiley Global

161/8 in 20 overs [Gawesha Basnayake 14, Lilan Kularathne 50, Omal Bhagya 14, Sayuru Wanasinghe 38, Panitha Dangalle 10; Prabath de Silva 2-32, Mihindu Samarasinghe 3-32, Sudaraka Keshara 2-22, Pranavan Premarajah 1-22]

Acuity Analytics

134/8 in 20 overs [Prabath de Silva 24, Mihindu Samarasinghe 28, Suhail Salman 36*, Hamdhan Othman 18, Navodha de Silva 10; Sayuru Wanasinghe 1-26, Lilan Kularathna 1-16, Panitha Dangalla 1-19, Pradeep Sanjeewa 3-21, Thushara Peiris 1-23]

At Thurstan College grounds

Bowlers power VS Information Systems to a 69 run win

VS Information Sytems

156/10 in 20 overs [Shamika Wickremathilake 39, Kisal Ranathunga 14, Chamath Chamupathi 38, Shan Aniketh 11, Ishara Sandaruwan 19, Ayesh Lakmal 10*; Sanura Dias 2-40, Thiwanka Ginige 2-21, Malith Fernando1-32, Suranga Gamage 1-22, Reshan Basnayake 1-20]

Home Lands Group

87/9 in 20 overs [Suranga Gamage 17, Thevindu Senarathne 31; Adeesha Bandaranayake 2-30, Shan Aniketh 2-24, Nimnada Kirindage 4-07]

Maliban Biscuits ‘B’ overcome CDB ‘B’ by 4 wickets to lead group A

CDB ‘B’

94/10 in 19.2 overs [Chathuranga Dikkumbura 18, Savin Gunasekera 21, Dasun Senevirathne 26; Tharindu Siriwardena 2-15, Dilan Alwis 1-10, Chamara Rathnayake 3-19,Chathuranga Dewapriya 3-17]

Maliban Biscuits ‘B’

95/6 in 17.1 overs [Gihan Ranasinghe 10, Mohammed Shilmi 38, Sameera Lakmal 21; Vishwa Danajaya 3-20, Praveen Abeysinghe 2-11]

At Nalanda College grounds,

Rasika’s five fer helps Sri Lanka Telecom to a 9 wicket win

Regnis Appliances

89/10 in 19.3 overs [Imalka Fernando 12, Asela Sanjeewa 34; Sudam Jayawardena 2-16, Rasika Damith 5-11, Sandun Wijayarathne 1-14, Sandakelum Fernando 1-10]

Sri Lanka Telecom

90/1 in 7.1 overs [Namal Dissanayake 45*, Asela Ekanayake 10, Thaveesha Gunawardena 28*]

At Royal College grounds,

DSI Group won by 84 runs

DSI Group

202/8 in 20 overs [Ochintha Nadeeshan 12, Yasas Weerasekera 65, Nilinda Maddumage 37, Udith Indunil 20, Pradeep Kumaranayake 10, Thilina Danushka 18*; Thilanka Sachin 2-37, Subash Mendis 1-42, Dasun Gunathilake 2-42, Damian Shehan 1-32, Praveen Chandrasekera 1-27]

Transco

118/7 in 20 overs [Subash Mendis 19, Sachin Silva 32, Thilanka Sachin 30; Pradeep Kumaranayake 1-29, Udith Indunil 2-10, Asitha Wijesekera 1-18]