Cricket has a peculiar way of rewarding the bold and punishing the overconfident. On a scorching Friday afternoon at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Richie Richardson made a decision that would haunt the West Indies for the rest of the day. Winning the toss in the 1995 Singer Champions Trophy Final, he opted to field first—a calculated risk, but one that would prove disastrous against a Sri Lankan side that was gaining momentum on the international stage. What followed was a masterclass in batting, a dramatic collapse, and an eventual triumph that solidified Sri Lanka’s growing reputation in world cricket.
Sri Lanka’s Commanding Start: Setting the
Foundation
The Sri
Lankan innings began with precision and patience as Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan
Mahanama set a steady foundation. The
West Indian bowlers struggled for an early breakthrough, watching helplessly as
the openers manoeuvred the ball around Sharjah’s dry surface. Their partnership
flourished past the century mark, and just as the West Indies looked
increasingly desperate, they finally struck.
At the
ominous score of 111, Jayasuriya fell for 57 off 82 balls, courtesy of a sharp
catch by Ottis Gibson off Anderson
Cummins. Yet, the dismissal did little to derail Sri Lanka’s intent. Mahanama,
in sublime touch, went on to make 66, while the ever-dangerous Aravinda de
Silva played an explosive cameo,
smashing a rapid 50 off just 35 balls. Their controlled aggression ensured Sri
Lanka maintained a run rate of around 5.5 per over, keeping them firmly ahead
in the contest.
At 196 for
three, Sri Lanka seemed poised for a massive total. However, cricket often
twists narratives in unexpected ways, and the West Indies found their window of
opportunity.
The West Indian Fightback: Gibson’s Fiery Spell
Just when
Sri Lanka looked set to accelerate, Ottis Gibson changed the complexion of the
game. His pace and movement rattled the Sri Lankan middle order, sparking a
collapse that saw Arjuna Ranatunga, Hashan Tillakaratne, Asanka Gurusinha, and
Chandika Hathurusingha fall in quick succession. From a dominant 215 for four,
Sri Lanka stumbled to 269 for eight, losing wickets at crucial moments.
As the
innings neared its end, an unusual interruption added to the drama. With Sri
Lanka at 262 for seven, match referee Raman Subba Rao surprisingly called for a lunch break with
seven balls still remaining. The pause momentarily halted Sri Lanka’s momentum,
but when play resumed, Gibson struck twice more, while Eric Upashantha was run out. The innings concluded at 273, a
challenging but chaseable target given West Indies’ batting firepower.
West Indies
Falter in the Chase: A Story of Missteps
What should
have been a determined chase quickly turned into a nightmare. Eric Upashantha,
playing only his second ODI, struck early, dismissing Stuart Williams and Brian
Lara in quick succession. Losing Lara, their talisman, was a body blow from
which the West Indies never truly recovered.
Sherwin
Campbell and Richie Richardson attempted
to stabilize the innings, but their partnership ended in disaster when a mix-up
resulted in Richardson’s unfortunate run-out. As if the pressure wasn’t enough,
Muttiah Muralitharan then delivered a moment of magic, clean bowling Campbell
with a delivery that left the batsman clueless. At 88 for five, the West Indies
were in dire straits.
There was a
flicker of resistance as Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Roger Harper put together 53
runs for the sixth wicket, rotating strike smartly and delaying the inevitable.
But Sri Lanka had all the answers. Kumar Dharmasena ended their fightback, dismissing Chanderpaul,
while Muralitharan continued his dominance, catching Harper off his own
bowling.
At 156 for
seven, the writing was on the wall. The lower order crumbled, and at 177 for nine, Sri Lanka was just one wicket
away from victory. Yet, the final wicket would not fall easily.
Gibson’s Late Resistance: A Last Stand in Vain
Despite the
bleak situation, Ottis Gibson refused to go down without a fight. Complementing
his stellar bowling performance, he launched a late counterattack alongside Hamish
Anthony, adding a defiant **43-run stand off just 32 balls. Gibson’s 33 runs,
featuring a six and three boundaries, injected momentary excitement into an
otherwise one-sided chase. But the resistance was short-lived—Dharmasena struck
again, dismissing Anthony to bring an end to the innings at 223.
With that,
Sri Lanka had clinched the title by 50 runs, a victory that was both convincing
and symbolic of their rising status in world cricket.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment in Sri Lankan
Cricket
The 1995
Singer Champions Trophy final was a tale of two halves—Sri Lanka’s dominance in
the first, and the West Indies’ fleeting comeback in the second. Richardson’s
gamble at the toss proved costly, and while there were glimpses of brilliance
from Gibson, Chanderpaul, and Harper, the West Indies never truly recovered from
their top-order failures.
For Sri
Lanka, this victory was more than just a trophy—it was a statement of intent. A
team once considered underdogs had now outplayed one of cricket’s most storied
teams on a grand stage. It was a precursor to even greater triumphs, paving the
way for their historic 1996 World Cup win.
For the
West Indies, the loss served as a reminder that their golden era was fading.
The Caribbean dominance of the 1970s and 1980s had begun to erode, and this
defeat at Sharjah was another indication that a changing of the guard was
imminent in world cricket.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
