There was only one team that had the greater interest in the Sri Lanka-Zimbabwe game and that was because they had a chance to go through to the semifinals. The tension could be seen on their faces as the Lankans batted for even a dasher like Jayasuriya could not put the ball away as freely as he does normally. Fortunately for the Lankans the man who has had such a good run in this World Cup was at the crease till the end and it was around his batting and century that the final Sri Lankan total was built. Atapattu has impressed everybody not just with his patience but also his range of shots and more importantly the selection of the right ball to play those shots. He may be stronger on the off-side unlike other batsmen from the subcontinent who are wristy players and so can work the boundaries on the leg-side too. Earlier the Sri Lankans had taken a major decision in dropping the out of form Jayawardene. He is a lovely strokeplayer but has been plagued with self-doubt in this event and the Sri Lankans thought it better to drop him so that he can contemplate what he is doing wrong and also how life out of the playing arena is not as exciting as its in the thick of action out in the middle. Perhaps the mini break might do him good for there’s no question that he is a class act and as we know form is temporary while class is permanent.
He might just be brought back for the semifinals against Australia for against them in the kind of form they are in, a touch of class is necessary. His replacement in the game, Gunawardene is more of a clubber of the ball and in fact should have played against India against whom he has a pretty good record. Here he batted well though his style of batting is never going to please the purists and importantly he gave the push, which allowed Atapattu to go on serenely till the end of the innings.
Though there were not huge partnerships there were no wickets falling in a hurry either, which can set an innings back and so the Lankans were able to post a total that required a special knock from a Zimbabwe player to be overhauled.
That did not happen though Zimbabwe got off to a brisk start. All eyes were on Andy Flower who was playing his last game for Zimbabwe and if he could have played a major innings then not only would it have got a win for his team but would have been a tremendous way to go from the game. But such fairy tale endings are far and few between and even Sir Donald Bradman got out for a duck in his final innings when all he needed was a four to finish with an average of 100 in Test cricket.
Sri Lanka now play Australia who showed no mercy on the Kenyans and came all guns firing at them. That’s what makes champions and its good to see that the Indian team is also showing the same streak and did not take it easy against New Zealand in spite of having already qualified for the semis. That’s what they have to do against Kenya and win convincingly so that they go in the finals with the belief that whether it’s Australia or Sri Lanka they are ready to do battle and bring the much coveted cup back.
The Lankans too must fancy their chances at Port Elizabeth where their semis is for it’s a wicket that helps the spinners and if they pick the right combo then they too could be in with a better chance than what they are being given.
Arab News Sports 18 March 2003
