Australia and Sri Lanka are the only teams who have faced each other in the World Cup final twice (1996 and 2007). The only time Sri Lanka have defeated Australia in a World Cup encounter is the 1996 World Cup final at Lahore, nevertheless their clashes have provided the sport some most memorable moments, such as Jeff Thomson’s devastating spell in 1975, Aravinda de Silva’s brilliant all-round show in 1996, Adam Gilchrist walking off in a semi-final despite judged not out by the umpire and the same man in 2007 playing one of cricket’s most brutal knocks in the final.
On Saturday, at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), two of cricket’s strongest teams clash for an important game that will play a crucial role in determining their position in the Pool B table. While Sri Lanka have peaked at the right time, Australia are undoubtedly one of the best sides in the competition.
Ahead of the encounter, Suvajit Mustafi lists down the past encounters between the two sides.
1. World Cup 1975 – The Oval | Group match
It was much before Sri Lanka became a Test playing nation. Ian Chappell’s Australia won this match but by the end of the day, they certainly weren’t the most popular side. Two Sri Lankan batsmen – Sunil Wettimuny and DuleepMendis were sent to hospital after being hit by Jeff Thomson. Mendis later recalled, “It was the fastest spell of fast bowling I had ever faced in my life. He was averaging over 100 miles.”
Earlier, Alan Turner scored a brilliant hundred, which took Australia to a score of 328, but Sri Lanka showed a lot of heart in the chase and despite of the injuries to the key players, they managed 276.
Brief scores:
Australia 329 for 5 in 50 overs (Rick McCosker 73, Alan Turner 101, Greg Chappell 50, Doug Walters 59) btSri Lanka 276 for 4 in 60 overs (Sunil Wettimuny 53 retd, AnuraTennekoon 48, Michael Tissera 52) by 52 runs
2. World Cup 1992 – Adelaide | League match
Australia sent Sri Lanka in, and the latter didn’t really get going. Apart from captain Aravinda de Silva, none of the batsmen got going. Sri Lanka just managed 189.
It was a comfortable chase for Australia in the end. Hosting the tournament for the first time in home, it was their second in in the tournament and a much needed one.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 189 for 9 in 50 overs (Aravinda de Silva 62; Peter Taylor 2-34) lost to Australia 190 for 3 in 44 overs (Tom Moody 57, Geoff Marsh 60; PramodyaWickramasinghe 2-29) by seven wickets
3. World Cup 1996 – Colombo | Group match
Those weren’t the best days for Sri Lanka and just prior to the World Cup, there was a massive bomb blast in Colombo, the incident is famously known as Colombo Central Bank bombing. Australia refused to send their team to play in Sri Lanka.
Australia forfeited the match and Sri Lanka won via walkover, and gained two points
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka won via walkover
4. World Cup 1996 – Lahore | Final
This has to be the most memorable World Cup encounter between the two sides. The relationship wasn’t the best between the two sides, Australia deciding not to play in Sri Lanka didn’t go well with the island nation. Prior to the World Cup, the sides were featuresd in a rough series where MuttiahMuralitharan was called for chucking.
It was Sri Lanka’s first World Cup final and Australia’s third, but ArjunaRanatunga’s men showed little sign of nerves as they outplayed Australia in all the departments to win the Cup. In what was the first day and night international to be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka winning the toss elected to field.
Once again the key architect for Sri Lanka was Aravinda de Silva, who picked up the key wickets of Mark Taylor, Ricky Ponting and Ian Healy. Later with the bat he crafted a brilliant unbeaten hundred to see his side home. Skipper Ranatunga scored the winning runs and that moment stands tall among Sri Lanka’s finest sporting moments.
Brief scores:
Australia 241 for 7 in 50 overs (Mark Taylor 74, Ricky Ponting 45, Michael Bevan 36*; Aravinda de Silva 3-42) lost to Sri Lanka 245 for 3 in 46.2 overs (AsankaGurusinha 65, Aravinda de Silva 107*, ArjunaRanatunga 47*) by seven wickets
5. World Cup 2003 – Centurion | Super Six stage
Luck had favoured the Sri Lankans as they just managed a surprise tie against South Africa (though South Africans have to be severely blamed for it) to find their way in the Super six stage. But here they were up against the defending champions, who were just getting better with every passing game and steamrolling opponents at will.
Batting first, Australia put up a massive 319. Adam Gilchrist was run out for 99, but skipper Ricky Ponting ensured he got his hundred. The score was huge and none of the Sri Lankan batsmen apart from an aging Aravinda de Silva showed fight, as Australia comfortably won by 96 runs. Co-incidentally this match was played exactly 12 years back from this day (March 7, 2003).
Brief scores:
Australia 319 for 5 in 50 overs (Adam Gilchrist 99, Ricky Ponting 114, Damien Martyn 52; Dilhara Fernando 3-47) bt Sri Lanka 223 in 47.4 overs (Aravinda de Silva 92; Brett Lee 3-52)
6. World Cup 2003 – Port Elizabeth | Group stage
The sides met again 11 days later in the World Cup semi-final. It was the grandest of stage and the match will be remembered for Gilchrist. He astonished everyone with his magnanimity. He attempted a sweep and the ball seemed to have come off his pad to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara. There was an appeal and umpire Rudi Koertzen ruled it in batsman’s favour but Gilchrist knew he had edged it and decided to walk.
Guided by an unbeaten 91 by Andrew Symonds, Australia reached a modest total of 212. Later, rain disturbed the proceedings and Sri Lanka chasing a revised total of 172 from 38.1 overs, fell short by 49 runs. Australia cruised to the final and defeated India to win the cup for the third time and second consecutive time.
Brief scores:
Australia 212 for 7 in 50 overs (Andrew Symonds 91*; ChamindaVaas 3-34, Aravinda de Silva 2-36, SanathJayasuriya 2-42) btSri Lanka 123 for 7 in 38.1 overs (Kumar Sangakkara 39*; Brett Lee 3-35, Brad Hogg 2-30) by 48 runs (via D/L method)
7. World Cup 2007 – St George’s | Super Eights
The match had every ingredient to be an even contest but a batting collapse from Sri Lanka meant that it would be an easy victory to the dominant Australians. After 37 overs, Sri Lanka were well poised at 167 for three, but soon they lost a flurry to wickets to be reduced to 184 for eight. A cameo from FarveezMahroof saw the team reach 226 but that wasn’t going to be enough against the strong Australian batting.
Australia comfortably chased the score with 44 balls to spare and Nathan Bracken for his figures of 9.4-3-19-4 was adjudged the man-of-the-match.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka226 in 49.4 overs (MahelaJayawardene 72, Chamara Silva 64; Nathan Bracken 4-19, Brad Hogg 2-35) lost to Australia 232 for 3 in 42.4 overs (Matthew Hayden 41, Ricky Ponting 66, Andrew Symonds 63*; Russel Arnold 2-20)
8. World Cup 2007 – Bridgetown | Final
It was Gilchrist’s day! On a rain day at Bridgetown, a scintillating 149 from 104 balls from the Australian wicket-keeper ensured that the cup was Australia’s for the fourth time.
It was a sweet revenge for Australia, who lost the final in 1996 to the same side. Rain marred what could have been a better contest. What was a day match, kept losing time due to the persistent rain. By the time the match ended it was pitch dark.
Australia had scored 281 from their 38 overs, and Sri Lanka were set a revised target of 269 from 36 overs. Apart from SanathJayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara added 116 from 106 balls and provided some hope but it didn’t prove to be enough. Australian bowling was too good and the rain aided them and light was a big factor. In the end the match wasn’t worthy of being a World Cup final.
Brief scores:
Australia 281 for 4 in 38 overs (Adam Gilchrist 149, Matthew Hayden 38, Ricky Ponting 37; LasithMalinga 2-49) btSri Lanka215 for 8 in 36 overs (SanathJayasuriya 63, Kumar Sangakkara 54; Michael Clarke 2-33) by 53 runs (via D/L method)
9. World Cup 2011 – Colombo | Group match
The match was well poised and it was a shame that it had to be abandoned due to the torrential rainfall. Electing to bat first, Sri Lanka were 146 for three in the 33rd over, when the match had to be called off.
Brief scores:
Match abandoned |Sri Lanka 146 for 3 in 32.5 overs (Kumar Sangakkara 73*, ThilanSamaraweera 34*) vs Australia (DNB)
Head-to-head (Overall)
Played: 90 Aus: 55 SL: 31 Tied: 0
Most Runs: Ricky Ponting (Aus) Runs: 1649 (46 ODIs) Average: 42.3
Most Wickets:MuttiahMuralitharan (SL) Wickets: 48 (37 ODIs) Average: 31.9
Head-to-head (In World Cups)
Played: 8 Aus: 6 SL: 1
Most Runs: Adam Gilchrist (Aus) Runs: 300 (4 ODIs) Average: 75.0
Most Wickets: Brett Lee (Aus) Wickets: 7 (3 ODIs) Average: 16.3
Brad Hogg (Aus) Wickets: 7 (4 ODIs) Average: 18.4
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer, strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)
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