Ignominy by default

World Cup Classics: India v Sri Lanka - 1st Semi-final, Eden Gardens, Calcutta, 13 March 1996

This was the first time in history that a cricket match was awarded to a team by default. And it was a travesty because it happened in a World Cup, shame that a semi-final was forfeited by a host nation and a disparaging administrative failure that the crowd did not allow the match to go on.

The majority of the blame lies with India as they hyped their team to the extreme that no one in India was expecting them to be anything but the world champions. Even Aamir Sohail, the stand-in Pakistan captain had said, ‘I wish India good luck in the final in Lahore’ while speaking to the press after the quarter-final in Bangalore. It just shows the Indians’ frame of mind during that world cup.

India won the toss and chose to field. The most feared openers of the world cup were back in the pavilion in the first over bowled by Javagal Srinath. After Kaluwitharana was caught in the deep third man off the very first ball, Sanath Jayasuriya followed in the same fashion on the fourth ball. Indians were celebrating while crowd was over the moon on seeing the back of these two specially Jayasuriya who had murdered them in the previous match. Gurusinha too fell cheaply but Aravinda de Silva was in his silky best. He played as if on a mission undeterred by the fall of wickets, exhibiting well-timed, well-placed exhilarating strokes to all corners of the ground. He hit 11 fours in his 50 which came in just 32 balls and when he fell at the score of 85 in the 15th over he had played a match-winning hand of 66 off 47 balls with 14 fours. It was not just an attractive innings to watch but a clever one too as he took full advantage of the new ball on a pitch that was to offer plenty to the spinners later on. Rest of the innings was built around Roshan Mahanama who batted patiently as wickets fell regularly on a slowing pitch. He went retired hurt due to cramps after making 58 off 101 balls. Arjuna Ranatunga and Hashan Tillakaratne contributed solidly before falling but Chaminda Vaas provided a late blitz to end the innings at 251 for 8 after 50 overs. Srinath and Tendulkar took 3 and 2 wickets apiece for just 34 runs each. It was a good total considering the nature of the pitch but Indians were confident to chase it down and the crowd was in a mood as if they were watching a thriller whose end they already knew.

Although Vaas removed Navjot Sidhu early through an athletic catch at point by Jayasuriya but Sachin Tendulkar and Sanjay Manjrekar took the score to 98 in 22.3 overs. At this point the match was in India’s grasp and spectators were dancing in the isles. But the events that followed immediately were as if taken right out of a horror movie for India. Jayasuriya had Tendulkar stumped brilliantly by Kalu for 65 (off 85 balls with 9 fours) and after Kumar Dharmasena had accounted for skipper Azharuddin, he clean-bowled Manjrekar to leave India wobbling at 101 for 4. Srinath was promoted to hit the spinners out of the attack but was run out for just 6 runs. Next three batsmen also fell cheaply in no time and India had lost the game well before it had ended. They were reduced to an embarrassing 120 for 8 after 34 overs. In a frantic display of batting India had lost 7 wickets for just 22 runs in just under 12 overs.

There was complete silence in the stadium when Tendulkar was given out by 3rd umpire. The crowd trouble started with the fall of Indian captain but it turned to nastiness when they felt India had slumped too deep to come out and win. It was too much for an expectant and over zealous crowd to digest. They started throwing bottles, cans and other things on to the ground. Soon unrest got out of control and some of them set the stands on fire. The Sri Lankan players were cordoned off the ground by the security staff. Match referee Clive Lloyd after much deliberation and seeing that the ground authorities were unable to get the match resumed awarded the game to Sri Lanka. Vinod Kambli at last left the field with heavy heart and tears pouring out of his eyes. It was impossible for India to win from that position but embarrassment due to crowd behavior, dramatic Indian collapse and helplessness had affected his nerves immensely and he could not restrain himself. Azharuddin who was already being blamed for fielding first despite Sri Lanka’s penchant for chasing was ridiculed further and had to be provided guards at home for protection.

Apart from taking two catches, Jayasuriya also took 3 wickets for just 12 runs in 7 overs. But the Man of the Match was Aravinda de Silva for his majestic knock. Sri Lanka won the match by default and entered a World Cup final for the first time. For India it was a day to forget and for the mob crowd it was a downright ignominy by default.