Finals often risk becoming dreary, lopsided affairs—high on hype, low on contest and remembered only through scorecards. But the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy final at the CBFS Stadium in Sharjah tore that script to shreds. Yes, it was one-sided—brutally so—but there was nothing dull about it. What unfolded was a breathtaking exhibition of dominance, a masterclass in destruction that turned Sharjah into a theatre of the extraordinary. At the heart of the storm stood one man, blazing brighter than ever: Sanath Jayasuriya.
A Titan at the Crease
Sri Lanka's crushing 245-run win over India was among their
most emphatic performances in ODI history. At the heart of it was Jayasuriya’s
elemental 189 from 161 balls—a performance so incandescent that it turned the
final into a stage for singular brilliance rather than a contest between two
equals.
At 116 for 4 in the 28th over, with India clawing back into
the game, Sri Lanka’s innings teetered. Kumar Sangakkara had just perished to a
loose stroke, and the early momentum had ebbed. But Jayasuriya remained—and in
Russel Arnold, he found a perfect foil. Arnold rotated strike with monk-like
discipline while Jayasuriya tore into the bowling with demonic precision. What
followed was a blitz that reshaped the match.
The first hundred runs from Jayasuriya were assertive. The
next 89 came from just 43 deliveries—a batter unshackled, dismantling India’s
bowling with brutal clarity. With four sixes and 21 boundaries, he didn’t just score
runs—he imposed his will.
It could have been different. At 93, Jayasuriya offered a
return catch to Sunil Joshi, who inexplicably fumbled a relatively simple
chance. Arms raised in celebration before completing the catch, Joshi’s moment
of premature triumph would haunt India, and Jayasuriya made sure it would be
costly.
India’s Collapse: A
Tale of Shellshock
Set a colossal 300 to win, India began as though already
resigned to their fate. Within the first 24 balls, both Tendulkar (5) and
Ganguly (3) were back in the pavilion, victims of incisive swing and seam from
Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa. Vaas, in particular, was relentless—his spell of
5 for 14 from 9.3 overs a masterclass in control and aggression.
India’s innings never left the runway. Robin Singh (11) was
the only batsman to reach double figures. The final score—54 all out in just
26.3 overs—was the lowest ever recorded in Sharjah, and the third lowest in the
history of ODI cricket. What began as a chase ended as a surrender.
Yuvraj Singh, Kambli, Badani, and Joshi all fell in quick
succession, either trapped in front or caught wafting. Muttiah Muralitharan,
barely required, cleaned up the tail with his usual trickery—an off-spinner
that castled Vijay Dahiya and an arm-ball that deceived Robin Singh. By the
time the innings ended, even dignity had taken its leave.
A Collective Triumph,
Sparked by a Singular Star
Jayasuriya’s heroics rightly dominated the post-match
proceedings. He walked away with a staggering haul of accolades: best batsman,
best fielder, most sixes, fastest fifty, player of the match, and player of the
series. Yet his post-match comments were humble: “We have played as a team
throughout the tournament and that is why we have won all four games. It has
been fantastic, and I would like to thank all the players for being so
supportive.”
Muralitharan, too, emphasized the collective spirit: “I feel
I’m bowling better than I ever have, but without the team, these records mean
little. We’re enjoying ourselves and playing as one unit.”
That unity, more than any individual brilliance, defines this
Sri Lankan outfit. They are a group forged not only in skill but in spirit—a
team that eats together, trains together, and plays as one. In an era when
individual flair often overshadows team cohesion, this side is a quiet rebuke
to cricket’s growing individualism.
For India, Lessons in
Humility and Hope
For Sourav Ganguly and his men, the loss was sobering.
"We are really disappointed. We had reduced them to 116 for 4, but then
Sanath batted brilliantly and batted us out of the game. All credit should go
to him," Ganguly admitted.
Indeed, sometimes, cricket offers no complex narratives,
only the reminder that genius can shatter plans and discipline alike.
Jayasuriya's innings did just that—a singular act that defined a final,
devastated an opponent, and delivered a masterpiece to the annals of Sharjah
folklore.
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