Reminiscing the 2008 Caribbean tale
Choosing the Man-of-the-Series on Sri Lanka’s visit to the Caribbean in March 2008 must have been a close run thing. Ramnaresh Sarvan showed amazing consistency with scores of 80, 72, 57 and 102n.o. Chaminda Vaas had 12 wickets in the series (including a five for) and scores of 54 not out, 13 and 45. While Vass was the man of the watch in Guyana, Sarwan did so at Port of Spain, Trinidad. However, the coin came down in favour of the West Indians. The choice confirmed many a bowler’s suspicion that wicket is indeed a batsman’s game!
This was a brief two Test series. If Sri Lanka triumphed comprehensively by 121 runs at the Providence Stadium, the 6-wicket win registered by the home team at the Queens Park Oval brooked no argument. With the series starting on the sixth being a three Test one. There in more time and space for a recovery if a team suffers an early loss. It may be dictated to by the takings at the turn sighs, or by the appraising limited over World Cup, but the possibility is ever-present that a Test will be sacrificed for a couple of extra one-dayers. Is it a case of mistaking the wood for the trees?
Winning the toss and batting, Sri Lanka were in clover when they totaled 476-8. Malinda Warnapura and Mahela Jayawardene stood out with knocks of 120 and 136. Fifties came off the bat of Michael Vandort, Kumar Sangakkara and Chaminda Vaas. The preserving Jerome Taylor reaped a small reward (4-110).
The Caribbean team first succeeded in avoiding the follow-on. Although eight batsmen got starts, it was only Sarwan who achieved something substantial. Left-armers Vaas, Thilina Thushara and Muttiah Muralitharan all had three a piece.
Warnapura’s 62 and Thilan Samaraweera’s unbeaten 56 were the corner-stones of Sri Lanka’s second innings effort. Debutante Suleiman Benn had the best figures of 3-59.
The target was 437 in 113 overs. Dwayne Bravo, promoted in the order, caught the spectator’s fancy with a thrilling innings of 83, let’s say his stroke-play was classically Caribbean. Sarwan reached 72 and Gayle, who batted down the order, an unbeaten 51. Vaas had a five for and, together with Muralitharan, rolled them even for 315 and a loss by 121 runs. The Sri Lankans carved out a bit of history as this was their first ever test win on West Indian soil.
Revenge was swift and sudden, like summer lightning. Invited to take first lease, Sri Lanka’s total was modest – a mere 278. The runs came hour a different quarter this time. Chamara Silva 76 and TM Dilshan 62 emerged top of the pops. The exciting Fidel Edwards (4-84) showed the way to his pace comrades by bagging four. Sarwan with 57 was the only one to go past fifty. Chris Gayle and Devon Smith fell short of that landmark. Muralitharan (5-79) ensured that the West Indian lead was kept within limits.
Samaraweera’s 125 stood out like a beacon. The admirable Vaas helped him add 138 for the seventh wicket. Taylor spearheaded the attack with 4-52. The hosts had more than their noses in front by now. They were in no mood to at slip the advantage they had won by their gritty performance.
The Caribbean team had to score 253 in two days. The fourth wicket pair of Sarwan 102 not out and Chanderpaul 86 not out, added 157 to clinch the issue. The fifth day was not needed. The series ended at one each.
That was a full strength West Indian side. The team that Chandimal and his team will be facing is horribly denuded of talent. The young team led by Jason Holder must be wishing for one likes of Gayle, Bravo, Sunil Narine et al. This is Sri Lanka’s chance to lord it over the men from the Islands. Coming up, Sri Lanka will have two difficult engagements against the pace-packed South Africans and the currently self-destructing English. Needless to say, the pitches should suit the local team.