Best of Sanath Jayasuriya
At 1997, Pepsi Independence Cup, a quadrilateral series, held at India between India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand. In which, during this day, that year, India played against Sri Lanka, in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
India have won the toss and Sachin Tendulkar, the then captain, decided to bat first. On a flat track, Sri Lankan done considerably well with the ball restricting India to 225/7 in their quota of 50 overs. Also, Sachin Tendulkar's poor batting form continued during the phase of his captaincy. The middle order batsmen Rahul Dravid and Ajay Jadeja scored some vital fifties to help India to push to this score.
Sri Lankan openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana came into the field to open the innings. Romesh Kaluwitharana was dismissed early by the pacer Abey Kuruvilla for duck. But, Jayasuriya, one of the greatest attacking openers and one fine reasonal impact created by him which helped in Sri Lankan team to win 1996 World Cup, today also fired. He targeted the bowlers and destroyed them by hitting consecutive boundaries over each and every parts of the stadium. Bowlers were clueless over his attacking mindset. He scored his fifty of just 41 balls. At other end, Marvaan Attapattu played slowly by rotating singles to Sanath Jayasuriya. His straight sixes against spinners, which was hit over the side screen were pure bliss to watch. He completed his 100, where the team's score were 145/1. Almost 65% of the team's runs were scored by him. From there also, he didn't stop. A roller coaster ride for the bowlers who were taken on. Particularly, Venkatesh Prasad was the one, who got ruthlessly been smashed. He scored 151 runs off just 120 deliveries without getting dismissed and this became the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan. Then, he himself broke this record by scoring 189 runs and still remains the highest individual score hit by a Sri Lankan in both ODIs and T20Is.
Sri Lankan openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana came into the field to open the innings. Romesh Kaluwitharana was dismissed early by the pacer Abey Kuruvilla for duck. But, Jayasuriya, one of the greatest attacking openers and one fine reasonal impact created by him which helped in Sri Lankan team to win 1996 World Cup, today also fired. He targeted the bowlers and destroyed them by hitting consecutive boundaries over each and every parts of the stadium. Bowlers were clueless over his attacking mindset. He scored his fifty of just 41 balls. At other end, Marvaan Attapattu played slowly by rotating singles to Sanath Jayasuriya. His straight sixes against spinners, which was hit over the side screen were pure bliss to watch. He completed his 100, where the team's score were 145/1. Almost 65% of the team's runs were scored by him. From there also, he didn't stop. A roller coaster ride for the bowlers who were taken on. Particularly, Venkatesh Prasad was the one, who got ruthlessly been smashed. He scored 151 runs off just 120 deliveries without getting dismissed and this became the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan. Then, he himself broke this record by scoring 189 runs and still remains the highest individual score hit by a Sri Lankan in both ODIs and T20Is.
He was awarded Man of the Match for his knock and also his scalp of single wicket. Many have forgot about this top hitter, who would dominate in all partx of the world. The leftie batsman, with just one mindset, see the ball and hit the ball. He scored 17 fours and 4 sixes in this entire innings. Also, Sri Lanka finished the match with 9.1 overs to spare, almost 55 deliveries remaining.
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