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Cricket
All credit to Sri Lanka for winning back-to-back ODIs in Bridgetown, clinching the three-match series in the process. It is an outstanding achievement for a side that went through a difficult phase following the World Cup. Sri Lanka made the semifinals of the 2003 World Cup, but not many were convinced by the side's display. The Lankans appeared to perform in fits and starts and consistency was clearly lacking. Much confusion followed when the Lankans returned, with Sanath Jayasuriya reluctant to lead the side. Aravinda de Silva, that great batsman, bid adieu, and long-term coach Dav Whatmore's contract was not renewed. There were reports too of trouble in the Lankan Board. Jayasuriya finally stepped down, which meant the Lankans had a new ODI captain in Marvan Atapattu, while Duleep Mendis took over from Whatmore. The side struggled on the seaming pitches of the three-nation tournament at Dambulla, and not many would have given Atapattu's men much of a chance against a resurgent West Indian side. The West Indians, on the other hand, must have been bristling with confidence. After all, they had just scored three successive wins over World Champion Australia, a creditable achievement even if the ODI series had been lost. What is stunning about the Lankan victories is that in the first game, the team defended 201, and in the second, chased a mammoth 313. If it was bowling and fielding that won Lanka the first duel, then batting carried the day in the second. Even, if there are differences between some senior members of the Lankan side, it does not reflect on the field of play. Here, I would like to travel back to the days when Sri Lanka had not been accorded Test status. I had the chance to play against the Lankans in the Gopalan Trophy and what struck me most about the island nation's cricket was the positive attitude of the players. The Lankans always played their cricket with plenty of dash and flair, and I can never forget the stroke-making skills of Roy Dias and Duleep Mendis, even before they had entered the Test match arena. Over the years, the Lankans have managed to discover high-quality shot-makers like Aravinda de Silva, Asanka Gurusinha, and Sanath Jayasuriya. There were periods when the Lankan cricket appeared to lose momentum, but even during those times, the team was never short of entertaining batsmen. Actually, one can glimpse the West Indian spirit in the Lankan style of play. Along the way, two match-winning bowlers emerged for Sri Lanka, in Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas. Men who played key roles for the side, along with the batsmen when Lanka, against all odds, won the '96 World Cup in the sub-continent. Murali and Vaas are still going strong. What I liked most about the Lankan win in the recent second ODI was the manner in which the side approached the target of 313. After that brilliant knock by Brian Lara, many must have believed that the Caribbeans would romp home. The Lankans managed to surprise the host. Upul Chandana came up with a brilliant knock, but if you look at the Lankan innings, there is not a single hundred. Instead we had one sizable knock from Chandana, and several useful contributions that added up. There is a lesson to be learnt for all teams from Sri Lanka's win - the importance of teamwork. There is a lesson for the West Indians too - never be complacent.
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