Sri Lanka team - 'ship without a rudder'

By A.C. de Silva

CRICKET: Sri Lanka looked like a ship without a rudder and New Zealand were able to beat the visitors by an innings and 25 runs, recording the quickest Test win - the match ending in three days at Christ church on March 6 in 1983.

Sri Lanka had a team without Roy Dias, Duleep Mendis, and Asantha de Mel because of injuries to the trio.

Only 12 players were fit for the touring Sri Lanka team. Yet the start by the then babes to international cricket was somewhat impressive enough.

The acting Sri Lanka captain Somachandra de Silva's decision to put New Zealand to bat first appeared justified when the Kiwis lost the first four wickets, including that of Geoff Howarth for nought with only 93 runs on the board. But sound batting by Jeremy Coney in the middle saw New Zealand recover substantially. Warren Lees joined Coney for the most productive stand of the innings. Coney was run out for 84 while wicket-keeper Lees became the highest scorer of the innings with 89. New Zealand made 344.

A silver lining for the tourists came from Sidath Wettimuny who carried his bat for 63 out of a total score of 144. The sustained hostility of Richard Hadlee and the effective out and swing of the burly Lance Cairns proved too much for Sri Lanka. Each claimed four wickets.

Early on the third day, Sri Lanka was batting for the second time in the match. And before the day had ended, the Lankans had fallen again. Sidath Wettimuny was removed early by the persevering Martin Snedden and two more wickets fell in quick succession. Debutant Susil Fernando compiled 46 and Somachandra de Silva made a gallant 52, a leg injury notwithstanding - Somachandra de Silva had to bat with the aid of a runner.

But these knocks only delayed the inevitable as New Zealand supported by an effective three-pronged pace attack of Snedden, Chatfield and Cairns bowled out Sri Lanka for 175 to register an innings and 25-run win.

Warren Lees with 89 and five catches behind the stumps was given the man of the match award. An interesting sidelight in this match was that brothers Sidath Wettimuny and Mithra Wettimuny opened the innings for Sri Lanka - a rare occurrence. Sri Lanka's record in Tests upto this match - lost to England in the inaugural Test at the Saravanamuttu Stadium by 7 wickets on February 17th 1982, lost to Pakistan by 204 runs in Karachi on March 5 in 1982, drew against Pakistan on March 14 in 1982, lost to Pakistan by an innings and 102 runs in Lahore on March 22 in 1982, drew against India on September 17 in 1982 at Madras.