March 17: When the underdogs shocked the big boys

#1 Sri Lanka crowned World Champions

Arjuna Ranatunga with the World Cup trophy

When: 17 March 1996

Occasion: Sri Lanka vs Australia, ICC Cricket World Cup Final, Lahore 1996

Perhaps the biggest fairy tale in the history of modern-day cricket became a reality on 17th March of 1996, when the perennial underdogs Sri Lanka were crowned World Champions, just 14 years of their existence as a Test nation.

Back then, Sri Lanka, as a country had a lot riding against them. They were beleaguered by the ongoing civil war and cricket came as an escape for the Sri Lankan public.

Citing security concerns several teams like Australia and West Indies refused to travel to the island nation.

In an attempt to extend support their co-host, an India and Pakistan combined XI played a match in Sri Lanka prior to the tournament.

Sri Lanka on the back of exhilarating performances by the likes of Jayasuriya, Kaluwitharana, Aravinda de Silva and Muralitharan stormed into the finals unbeaten.

But they were up against a side who had the experience of featuring and winning a high-pressure game like the World Cup final and this is where the leadership of Ranatunga came into play.

Ranatunga was blessed with a pristine game sense coupled with a warrior like demeanour, someone who'd not be overawed by the situation or the opposition.

Ranatunga testified the aforementioned quality in the finals both as a tactician as well as a batsman.

Ranatunga's astute leadership and bowling changes reduced Australia to 7-241 in 50 overs. He was not done though.

When Ranatunga came into bat Sri Lanka still needed 94 runs to win. Ranatunga took on a Shane Warne, Australia's prime weapon during the 1996 World Cup milking him for singles while pouncing on a rare loose ball.

Ranatunga's calm rubbed off on de Silva (107) too who was playing beautifully. The duo without further anomaly achieved the target in 46.2 overs to complete the fairy tale..