Sri Lanka holds 4-2 advantage in World Cup matches against India

By Suhrid Barua

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Sri Lanka hold a 4-2 advantage over India in their head-to-head meetings in the World Cup, with one game at the 1992 World Cup being rained out.

Saturday’s lip-smacking clash at the Wankhede Stadium would be the eighth face-off between the two teams in the marquee event.

Here’s a fleeting glance at the India-Sri Lanka clashes thus far in World Cup matches:

1. 1979 World Cup (Old Trafford) – Sri Lanka won by 47 runs

It was a match in which Sri Lanka suffered a blow even before the first ball was bowled. Regular captain Anura Tenekoon sustained an injury and Bandula Warnapura led the side.

Sri Lanka were well served by a near-century stand between Sunil Wettimuny and Roy Dias before Duleep Mendis provided the final flourish to drive them to 238 for five from their allotted 60 overs.

Set 239 for victory, Sunil Gavaskar and Anshuman Gaekwad put up a solid opening stand before the innings lost direction. Somachandra de Silva triggered a middle-order slide while Tony Opatha mopped up the tail as India fell 47 runs short.

Sri Lanka 238 for 5 in 60 overs bt India 191 all out in 54.1 overs.

2. 1992 World Cup (Mackay) – No result

The Ray Mitchell Oval was the venue for the India-Sri Lanka match. Heavy rains delayed the start of play for five hours and when both teams came to play 20 overs each, heavens opened again after the Indian innings was just two balls old. This was after Sri Lankan captain Aravinda de Silva won the toss and asked India to make first use of the wicket.

Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin promoted big-hitting Kapil Dev to the opener’s position together with Krishnamachari Srikkanth. Srikkanth defended one ball and collecting a single off the next ball of Champaka Ramanayake before the rains flooded the ground leading to a washout.

India 1 for no loss in 0.2 overs vs Sri Lanka – Match abandoned.

3. 1996 World Cup (Delhi) – Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets

Sachin Tendulkar almost batted through the entire 50 overs, belting a strokeful 137, and was involved in a massive 175-run third-wicket partnership with skipper Mohammad Azharuddin which enabled India post a score of 271 for in 3 in 50 overs.

Sri Lanka made light of the chase of 272, rattling along to 50 in 5 overs through some swashbuckling batting from Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana.

Anil Kumble did push Sri Lanka back with the wickets of Asanka Gurusinghe and Aravinda de Silva, but skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and Hashan Tillakaratne took the game away from India with an unbroken century stand.

India 271 for 3 in 50 overs lost to Sri Lanka 272 for 4 in 48.4 overs.

4. 1996 World Cup (Kolkata) – Sri Lanka won by default

Sri Lanka fought back through half-centuries from Aravinda de Silva and Roshan Mahanama after the openers – Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana fell cheaply. Arjuna Ranatunga and Hasan Tillakaratne also chipped in with useful contributions in the middle overs as Sri Lanka racked up a score of 251 for 8 in its stipulated 50 overs.

In pursuit of 253 for victory, Sachin Tendulkar gave India the early confidence and forged a near-century stand with Sanjay Manjrekar, but Tendulkar’s dismissal opened the floodgates as the Sri Lankan bowlers triggered a slump. India lost nine wickets for just 22 runs on a wicket which was showing signs of deterioration. The collapse infuriated the Eden crowd. They threw bottles on to the outfield and set fire to the seating. Match Clive Lloyd took both teams off the ground for 15 minutes and later awarded the match to Sri Lanka by default.

Sri Lanka 251 for 8 in 50 overs bt India 120 for 8 in 34.1 overs. (Match forfeited)

5. 1999 World Cup (Taunton) – India won by 157 runs

Sourav Ganguly slammed a blistering 183 and was associated in a mammoth 318-run second-wicket stand with Rahul Dravid, who helped himself to a fine hundred, as India notched up an imposing score of 373 for 6 in its allotted 50 overs.

Sri Lanka never looked like mounting a serious challenge to India’s tall score and folded up for 216 in 42.3 overs. Robin Singh was the destroyer-in-chief, snaring a fine five-wicket haul.

India 373 for 6 in 50 overs bt Sri Lanka 216 all out in 42.3 overs.

6. 2003 World Cup (Johannesburg) – India won by 183 runs

An exhilarating century opening stand between Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag provided the firm base as India put up an impressive score of 292 for 6 in 50 overs.

Sri Lanka were devastated by Javagal Srinath early on before Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra shared the spoils as Sri Lanka were all out for a paltry 109 in 23 overs – handing India a massive 187 run win.

India 292 for 6 in 50 overs bt Sri Lanka 109 all out in 23 overs.

7. 2007 World Cup (Port-of-Spain) – Sri Lanka won by 69 runs

Sri Lanka rode on top-order solidity from Upul Tharanga before Chamara Silva and Tillakaratne Dilshan provided the much needed momentum towards the end as Sri Lanka raised a competitive score of 254 for 6 from its stipulated 50 overs.

India never recovered from Chaminda Vaas’ double blows and folded for 185 in 43.3 overs.

Sri Lanka 254 for 6 in 50 bt India 185 all out in 43.3 overs.

(Suhrid Barua is a cricket buff who invariably gets pumped up before every India match)