Arjuna’s team triumphs over All Stars
The ‘Little Dynamite’ Romesh Kaluwitharana was adjudged player of the match - Pic by Ranjith Perera
The 1996 World Champion team led by Arjuna Ranatunga pulled off a one run win over the All Stars captained by Roy Dias in the 20 over game played at the CCC ground yesterday. The game was organised to mark 20 years of winning the Wills World Cup. Like the tough game against Australia in the final in the 1996 World Cup another tough encounter took place yesterday as well. In 1996 the World Cup was handed over by Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan and this year the trophy was presented by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.
Romesh Kaluwitharana, who scored 71, was adjudged the man of the match. Like in the 1996 World Cup games Kaluwitharana hit five sixes and eight boundaries and retired. The next best scorer was Aravinda de Silva with 51 with two sixes and seven fours in 27 balls. Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga scored 13 runs facing 13 deliveries. Indika de Saram was the top scorer for the Old Stars with 49 inclusive of two sixes and six fours and was clean bowled by Upul Chandana. All Stars skipper Roy Dias was able to score only six falling lbw to a delivery by Muralitharan after facing eight deliveries.
The game was organised by the Sri Lanka Cricket Players Association and Singer Sri Lanka who were the official sponsor of the Sri Lanka team in 1996 were once again the sponsors of this encounter as well. 1996 World Champions 195 for 8 in 20 overs (Romesh Kaluwitharana 71, Aravinda De Silva 51, Roshan Mahanama 17, Sanath Jayasuriya 16, Arjuna Ranatunga 13, Hashan Tillekeratne 13; Graham Labrooy 2 for 24) All Stars 194 all out in 20 overs (Indika de Saram 49, Malintha Warnapura 24, Avishka Gunawardena 23, Halambage Premasiri 20; Muttiah Muralitharan 3 for 35, Sanath Jayasuriya 2 for 42)