Flashback to 1983 World Cup – England vs Sri Lanka
England's David Gower was in full swing in the 1983 Wolrd Cup
Taunton, in Somerset, was the venue for Sri Lanka’s 2nd match. The small ground was lit up by an exquisitely charming innings of 130 by elegant left-hander, David Gower. What Gower started was effectively completed by a supposedly not-so potent off-spinner Vic Marks, who returned figures of 5/39 in his 12 overs.
Fowler and the more assured Tavare got England going with a partnership of 49. The latter was a Arjuna Ranatunga victim. The Sri Lankans went in with 5 bowlers, and Ranatunga was given his full quota (12-0-65-1).
Gower and Lamb put on 96 for the 3rd wicket. The left-hander dissected the attack clinically, while Lamb played with his usual panache and power. When the pair found that the run-rate needed lifting, Lamb promptly bludgeoned 2 meaty sixes over long on. Lamb was cleaned up by Ratnayake for 53, and then England seemed to slip on a banana skin, as both Gatting and Botham were run out in the space of four balls (194/5).
De Mel accounted for Gower and England needed the cushion of a big total. Current Test umpire Ian Gould chipped the ball and scampered around for an invaluable 35, while paceman Dilley (no mean bat, it must be said) slipped the knife in further with a powerful 29, 20 extras bolstered the England total to 333/9.
De Mel (12-3-62-2) and Ratnayake (12-0-65-2) had 2 successes each, while John and Ranatunga had one. Sole spinner D.S. de Silva spun and toiled without success.
The situation wasn’t much different from what it is now. The Sri Lankans were reputed to have depth in their batting. Graham Dilley struck swiftly to dispose of Kuruppu, caught low down in the slips by Gatting. Sri Lanka’s quite brilliant No.3, Roy Dias, was also a Dilley victim. Botham’s catch in the gully to send Dias back, took the breath away.
Any thoughts of the home team running through the Sri Lankan batting were cast aside by roly-poly skipper Duleep Mendis, who kept striking the ball with power in his innings of 56. Opener Sidath Wettimuny kept him company in a 3rd wicket stand of 75. Wettimuny, strayed for once from the straight and narrow, and was trapped LBW on the sweep by Marks.
A couple of batsmen were held in the deep, trying to take on the deceptively, amiable Marks. Ranatunga (34) and de Silva (26) made significant contributions. Even after they fell, spunky wicket keeper Guy de Alwis and competitive Asanka de Mel continued to play their shots. Sri Lanka, who had topped 330 in the previous game against Pakistan, raised visions of another big total and possibly, of an improbable victory.
De Alwis kept churning out the runs, and reached his half-century by depositing England skipper Willis over mid-wicket for 6. Ratnayake barely entered double figures and John didn’t amount to much. The upshot was that Sri Lanka lost by 47 runs, but it could have been closer, had a tail-ender stayed around to help de Alwis, who made a gallant, unbeaten 58. Marks (5/39) and Dilley (4/45) produced their own version of the Vic and Graham show, to scuttle Sri Lanka’s hopes.