96 World cup Champions prove they’re still unbeatable

The 96 World champions proved still unbeatable as they beat Sri Lanka legends by five wickets in their exhibition match played at the NCC grounds on Saturday. The match was one of those fund raising events of Baby Cheramy Big Heart project.

Romesh Kaluwitarana, ‘Little Kalu’ as he was fondly known, added 52 runs in 31 balls displaying same skills what he showed in 1996 World Cup tournament. His innings included 2 sixes and 8 fours.
Arjuna Ranatunga, the only skipper who has lifted a World Cup for Sri Lanka, scored 37 runs in 28 balls before retiring unbeaten to make way for Hashan Tillakaratne to come in to the middle.

Tillakaratne drove through the mid-off to hit the winning run but the result was not all that important here, in this match. Asoka de Silva took 3 wickets for 17 runs.

Elegant trademark cover drives from Sidath Wettimuny and flicks from Hemantha Devapriya set the platform for Sri Lankan legends to score 137 for 7 wickets in 20 overs.

The openers added 46 runs in 36 balls before Upul Chandana makes the breakthrough with a return catch to dismiss Hemantha Devapriya. The wicket keeper batsman hit three sixes and couple of boundaries in 28 balls. Sidath Wettimuny was run out for 16.

National selector, Hemantha Wickramaratne scored a stylish 30 off 28 balls including a six and four boundaries.

Arjuna Ranatunga won the toss and invited Sidath Wettimuny to bat first. It was a wonderful reunion of World Cup Champions in aid of Baby Cheramy's Big Heart Project.

The 96 Champions were in their same old heroic outfit, which has made permanent marks in the minds of Sri Lankans. Sri Lankan Legends were dressed up in a kit to resemble Australia. The only difference was the name printed across their chest and it said "SRI LANKANS"

Romesh Kaluwitarana won the man of the match award for his aggressive half century.

Sri Lanka Cricket Legends Team – 130/7 in 20 overs
(Sidath Wettimuny 16, Hemantha Devapriya 30, Brendon Kuruppu 2, Hemantha Wickramaratne 30, Eric Upashantha 25, Chamara Silva 23, Ashoka de Silva 5, Sanjeewa Weeraasinghe 2)

96’ World Cup Champions Team – 138/5 in 14.1 overs
(Romesh Kaluwitarana 52,  Sanath Jayasuriya 1, Arjuna Ranatunga 37, Asanka Gurusinghe 12, Aravinda de Silva 1, Roshan Mahanama 12 not out, Hashan Tilakaratne 11 not out)

click here to see photos of the event  http://www.photo.gossiplankanews.com/2013/01/1996-world-cup-team-vs-sri-lanka.html