SK Flashback: All-round Aravinda de Silva wins the World Cup for Sri Lanka

#1 The skipper and his deputy win the trophy for their team

Ranatunga started attacking the Australian bowlers, especially Shane Warne

When Gurusinha was dismissed, the target was still 94 runs away and anyone who saw Australia steal a win from the jaws of defeat in the semi-final against West Indies knew that they couldn’t have been counted out.

A collapse was on the cards considering Australia’s experience in big matches and Sri Lanka’s lack of it, but the Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and his deputy, Aravinda, had other ideas.

Coming in at no.5, Ranatunga started attacking the Australian bowlers, especially Shane Warne, right from the word go and ensured that no pressure could come on the Sri Lankan middle order. He scored an unbeaten 47 off only 37 deliveries with 4 fours and six, and star spinner Warne went for 58 off his 10 overs; wicketless!

Aravinda De Silva on the other side, went about his business with pristine elegance and made sure the Australians were not given an inch to try and sneak back into the contest. He made a masterly unbeaten 107 off just 124 deliveries in an innings that had 13 boundaries and completed a Sri Lankan World Cup win in the most comprehensive fashion.

His performance of 3 for 42 and 107 not out was easily the best all-round performance by a player in a World Cup final, surpassing Wasim Akram’s in the tournament’s previous edition. Sri Lanka haven’t won the cup again since 1996 despite being in the finals 2 more times, in 2007 and 2011.

But Aravinda’s efforts on this day ensured that it’ll be etched in the memories of all Sri Lankan fans and indeed, cricket fans, forever.