De Silva dazzles in Asia Cup opener
After three days of performing the role of a weather reporter at Dhaka, scribes finally had a chance to do what they had come here for
Anand Vasu
29-May-2000
After three days of performing the role of a weather reporter
at Dhaka, scribes finally had a chance to do what they had come
here for. A window of opportunity in the form of a spell of good
weather made play possible at the Bangabandhu Stadium. If the
sun gods took mercy and shone hard all afternoon, Aravinda de
Silva took over under the lights and dazzled. An unbeaten 96
from the veteran in his first knock as opener saw Sri Lanka breeze
to a nine-wicket victory in the opening match of the seventh
Asia Cup.
When Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya won the toss and put
the hosts in to bat, Chaminda Vaas responded well, accounting
for two wickets in quick time. Even as Javed Omar waged a lone
battle at one end, Bangladesh slowly but steadily lost wickets
at the other end. Former skipper Akram Khan gave Omar good company
while he was at the crease with some solid blows. The two came
together with Bangladesh on 27/3 and pushed the score past the
hundred mark. Just when Akram Khan looked like he was attempting
to push the scoring rate, he feel to a good running catch in
the outfield by Upul Chandana off the bowling of Aravinda de
Silva. Earlier in the over he struck two boundaries off the spinner
but could not keep the momentum going.
After the fall of the burly Akram Khan, Omar found no one to
partner him in any meaningful manner. Although he helped himself
to an unbeaten 85, Bangladesh could muster only 175 in their
allotted 50 overs.
Debutant Kaushalya Weeraratne, who impressed with his mediumpacers
in the recently concluded Youth World Cup in Sri Lanka, was a
picture of delight when he picked up his first wicket in One
Day Internationals with just the fifth ball he bowled. He ended
with the most respectable figures of 7-1-18-1
If watching Bangladesh take the field against the former World Cup champions
was reward enough for the crowd at the Bangabandhu Stadium, Aravinda
De Silva's silken touch at the top of the innings was an unexpected
bonus. When asked before the tournament, the Sri Lankan management
did not either confirm or deny the rumours that De Silva would
open the innings. Partnering the explosive Jayasuriya who is
not in the best of nick, De Silva unveiled his complete array
of strokes. Starting with a trademark pull shot, he laced
the ball through the covers at will. Finding the gaps with consummate
ease, De Silva thoroughly justified Dav Whatmore's experiment
of using him at the top of the innings.
Even the loss of Jayasuriya to a rush of blood did not slow down
De Silva. Marvan Attapattu joined De Silva in the middle and
the two made the best of a flat batting track. Before the 31st
over could be completed, De Silva was close to a century, Attapattu
on 41 and Sri Lanka past the target.
Naimur Rehman, who was run out without facing a ball earlier
in the day, grassed a catch that De Silva offered when he was
just 13. When De Silva walked up to receive the man of the match
award, all Rehman could do was stand back, applaud and rue his
luck.
If De Silva's innings today was a hint of things to come, it
will take more than luck to stop the Lankans in this series.