Early Devastation: Ambrose the Executioner
Victory with over two days remaining may suggest dominance,
but West Indies' win over Sri Lanka was not as straightforward as the final
margin implies. It was Curtly Ambrose, still fearsome on familiar turf, who
engineered Sri Lanka’s collapse early on a damp, green-tinged pitch. Within the
first thirty minutes, Ambrose tore through the top order, moving within reach
of the prestigious 300-wicket mark in typically imperious fashion.
Yet, while Ambrose was relentlessly accurate, his fellow
bowlers struggled with length and rhythm. It was during his absence that Sri
Lanka’s resistance began to take shape.
Resistance in the
Fire: Jayasuriya and Ranatunga’s Grit
Enter Sanath Jayasuriya and Arjuna Ranatunga—a study in
controlled defiance. Their 110-run stand was not just productive; it was brave.
Both men absorbed physical punishment, peppered with rising deliveries that
reared off uncertain lengths. It was batting that combined courage with
calculated aggression, all while wearing the scars of the pitch's caprice.
The pitch itself became a subject of controversy. Sri Lankan
coach Bruce Yardley openly criticised the decision to start play before tea,
calling it a “crap pitch.” Yet ironically, his top order had endured the most
volatile conditions with surprising composure. Ranatunga’s dismissal—run
out—broke the partnership, but worse followed.
Fractures and
Milestones: Sri Lanka Falters
Hashan Tillekeratne’s bold decision to bat without an arm
guard proved costly. Walsh, relentless and precise, shattered his forearm,
while Jayasuriya perished attempting to dominate Carl Hooper’s subtle
variations. His 82 was studded with nine boundaries and two sixes—an innings of
counter-punching elegance lasting 223 minutes.
Kaluwitharana's bizarre dismissal—treading on his
stumps—ushered in Courtney Walsh’s return. Ambrose then took center stage
again, dismissing Sanjeewa de Silva to reach his 300th wicket in his 71st Test.
He became only the fourth West Indian and the twelfth bowler overall to reach
this landmark—a moment of statistical glory wrapped in quiet ferocity.
A Reply Undone: Sri
Lanka Strike Back
West Indies’ reply began with composure, but quickly unraveled
due to careless shot selection and an inspired burst from Pushpakumara. Lara,
controversially given out caught behind, left with visible disbelief. His early
exit sparked a chain reaction: the lower order was dismantled in spectacular
fashion by Muttiah Muralitharan, who bowled the final three wickets in 35
balls—without conceding a single run.
Campbell's half-century stood as the only beacon in a flurry
of poor strokes and missed opportunities. From 113 for 4, West Indies collapsed
to 134 all out, surrendering their advantage with alarming haste.
Ambrose Leads Again:
The Turning Point
Ambrose resumed his role as enforcer in Sri Lanka’s second
innings. Jayasuriya, so dominant in the first dig, was gone by the third
ball—caught behind. Ambrose struck twice more in quick succession, this time
with meaningful backup. Bishop found rhythm, Hooper teased, and Sri Lanka
folded quickly.
Their best stand—just 44 between Ranatunga and Aravinda de
Silva—was hardly sufficient. Bishop's double strike in one over pulled the
heart out of the innings, and no one else could stem the tide. In just 35
overs, Sri Lanka were all out again, setting West Indies a target of
187—modest, but not trivial given the low-scoring nature of the match.
A Glimpse of Glory:
The Williams-Campbell Show
If the rest of the match was defined by struggle, West
Indies’ second innings offered an exuberant counterpoint. Campbell and Williams
unleashed a dazzling assault on the Sri Lankan bowlers, racing to 160 with
strokes that were both authoritative and stylish.
Williams, the more fluent of the pair, struck 12 boundaries
and two sixes in just over two and a half hours before falling at long-on.
Campbell too, after a well-paced knock, gave his wicket away cheaply. Lara’s brief
stay ended in disappointment—dismissed second ball—followed immediately by
debutant Reifer’s exit.
But the early fireworks had already ensured that the target
was within reach. Victory came half an hour before tea, though not without the
reminder that this was a contest of fragile momentum and bold counterattack.
A Win Built on Fire
and Frailty
The final result—victory by seven wickets with two days to
spare—masks the fragility that often hovered beneath West Indies’ performance.
They relied heavily on the brilliance of Ambrose, the energy of Campbell and
Williams, and a few moments of Muralitharan-like magic from their bowlers.
Sri Lanka, for their part, batted with heart in the face of
dangerous conditions but could not string together complete innings. Their
collapse under pressure reflected a lack of depth and adaptability, and yet
they exposed West Indies' vulnerabilities in a match that was far more even than
the scoreboard would suggest.
In the end, it was a contest won not just by skill but by
seizing the moments—and Curtly Ambrose, more than anyone, knew how to seize them.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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