Colombo Test - A historic event

The first test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka played at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground that Pakistan won by 5 wickets will go in the annals of history for some of its significant features. Nature has its own ways of handling things, which do not always go along with the hopes and aspirations of people. It rewarded Pakistan for its fighting spirit as against Sri Lanka's plans and preparations of a large-scale celebration.

Being the centenary Test of Sri Lanka's cricket, the Colombo Test was a historical event for the hosts. Sri Lanka's 2-1 triumph over Pakistan in the test series held in February - March this year provided the hosts a psychological edge over Pakistan. With the people's hopes and expectations risen high, the occasion was planned to be celebrated like a festival.

It is the anxiety about the result of a match till the last moment that makes cricket the game of glorious uncertainties. Sri Lanka being a highly talented outfit, one could not blame its people for elevating their hopes and spirits of a victory rather too high. Pakistan's glorious triumph certainly snatched from the nation its golden chance of a celebration.

To glance over Pakistan cricket team's performance in the first half of the new millennium of 2000, one finds that our team marked an end to its era of dismal failures when it humbled Sri Lanka in the Karachi Test. Putting behind the defeat at the hands of Australia Down Under and loss of series against Sri Lanka at home, the team regrouped and revitalized itself. It left for Sharjah with raised moral and high spirits, the outcome of which is history. The rejuvenated Pakistan team humbled a strong South Africa and clinched the Coca-Cola cup.

The fascinating Caribbean Islands were our team's abode for the next two months, where Pakistan also met with thundering success. It participated in the Wireless and Cable one-day Series 2000 along with Zimbabwe and the West Indies and clinched the trophy after defeating the hosts in the finals.

It was followed by a highly exciting three test series between Pakistan and the West Indies. Except for a series against Australia, the West Indies had never lost at home. Defending the record was a point of prestige for them. On the other hand, Pakistan finding its players in top form wanted to break the jinx. How the Pakistan team became a victim of poor and partial umpiring is known to the cricket world. The series were drawn.

Robbed of a historical victory in the Caribbean's the team flew straight to Dhaka to participate in the Asia Cup. Though disappointed, the boys had not lost their courage and the will to fight. As a result Pakistan clinched the Asia Cup by defeating Sri Lanka in the finals.

So, before landing in Sri Lanka, the Pakistan team had a streak of splendid victories behind it. It was a new look edifice with its bowling arm at the peak and the batsmen having courageously beaten off the psychological ghost of uncertainty. After defeating India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, West Indies and Sri Lanka in the one dayers in a row, the team's spirits were over whelming and the courage unfaltered. The team was riding high to face any challenge.

With more than half a day's play lost on account of rain, Sri Lanka had a poor start losing 2 wickets for 56 runs on the board. On the second day there was an occasion to celebrate when the former skipper and a prolific batsman of his days, Arjuna Ranatunga took the crease. Though he did not stay long on the wicket, he achieved the distinction of becoming the only player to represent his country in its inaugural as well as the 100th test.

Sri Lanka, however, managed to pile up a challenging total of 273 runs. Marvin Atapattu (73) and an upcoming star Mahela Jayawardene (77) were the two batsmen who provided respectability to Sri Lanka's innings. Another significant feature of the day was the glorious 300th wicket of Waqar Younis's illustrious test career.

Pakistan had an inauspicious start when Mohammad Wasim, who had somehow been preferred over Imran Nazir for this match was, out for only 16 runs on the board. A lot was expected from young Younis Khan and Yousuf Youhana, the winner of "Man of the Series" Award in Asia Cup but both of them made their way to the pavilion cheaply. The Sri Lanka's score of 273, which looked easy, did not prove to be so. Pakistan met with the disaster, losing 9 wickets for 176.

One must admit that the miracles do occur. Wasim Akram and Arshad Khan were at the crease with the Mount Everest in front to conquer. Wasim Akram had done it on some earlier occasions, but expecting Arshad Khan to endure for so long was like asking for the moon. Both of them held the crease, scoring runs slowly and waiting for the inevitable. Bravo, they kept climbing with unprecedented courage, falling only 7 runs short of the summit. It was perhaps the most sensational innings that Pakistan ever played, Wasim Akram emerged as the hero with a defiant knock of 78. Arshad Khan, who provided the former skipper a formidable support in his crusade, remained unbeaten with 9 runs.

The match being evenly poised, Sri Lanka had a disastrous start in the 2nd innings losing the first two wickets for only 25 runs. The moment of rejoicing came when Wasim Akram achieved the historical landmark of 400 test wickets by getting Russel Arnold out. Wasim Akram thus became the 4th bowler in cricket history to do so.

By claiming 5 wickets, Muralitharan the magician routed Pakistan in the first innings. Wasim Akram took the sweet revenge by demolishing Sri Lanka for 123 runs in the 2nd innings and clinching 5 wickets. For showing such a devastating form, Wasim Akram warned the cricket world that he continues to remain one of the top bowlers in the game.

Needing only 131 runs to win, the Pakistan batsmen had only to stay at the crease. They did so but not comfortably. Sri Lanka's bowling - fielding combination kept them under tremendous pressure. Pakistan lost 5 wickets for 89 runs, with every minute of the game gripped in tension.

Muralitharan being the most troublesome bowler in the Sri Lankan side, a wise change was made to promote Wasim Akram in the batting order. He stemmed the rot and in combination with Younis Khan brought the glorious victory to Pakistan. Though Wasim Akram will remain the hero of this triumph, Younis Khan will also be remembered for the two prolific sixes that he hit at tail end of the game.