The World Champions' poor run continues (30 March 1999)

30 March 1999

The World Champions' poor run continues

Atul Kahate

The present World Champions are having a really bad time. Sri Lanka have now lost 15 of their 20 matches in the season. The absence of Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Mutthiah Muralitharan seems to be showing as they prepare to defend their title in England soon.

Their defeat against India at Pune on Tuesday was their fourth against India in as many matches in 1998-99, and three of them have been when they were chasing a target (batting second): quite unheard of not in recent past with the guns of Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana blazing.

After winning the triangular tournament in England (the third team was South Africa) in summer, they have been beaten in the 'Mini World Cup' in Bangladesh, they could not one even one match at Sharjah against India and Zimbabwe, were the worst performers in the Carlton and United Series in Australia, and now in the Pepsi Cup: thus not reaching even one final out of four. The following table says it all.

No Vs Ground Date Won By T B For Score Vs Score

1 NZ Dhaka 26/10/1998 SL 5 Wkts W L 191- 5 44.0 188-10 54.0 2 SA Dhaka 30/10/1998 SA 92 Runs W L 132- 9 27.0 240- 7 39.0

3 Ind Sharjah 06/11/1998 Ind 3 Wkts L F 245- 7 50.0 248- 7 50.0 4 Zim Sharjah 07/11/1998 Zim 7 Wkts L F 196-10 49.4 197- 3 46.1 5 Ind Sharjah 09/11/1998 Ind 81 Runs W L 98-10 39.0 179-10 54.0 6 Zim Sharjah 10/11/1998 Zim 24 Runs W L 235-10 48.5 259- 7 50.0

7 Eng Brisbane 11/01/1999 Eng 4 Wkts W F 207- 7 50.0 208- 6 52.0 8 Aus Sydney 13/01/1999 Aus 8 Wkts W F 259- 9 50.0 260- 2 47.0 9 Eng Melbourne 19/01/1999 Eng 7 Wkts W F 186-10 50.0 189- 3 47.0 10 Aus Hobart (2) 21/01/1999 SL 3 Wkts W L 211- 7 52.0 210- 9 50.0 11 Eng Adelaide 23/01/1999 SL 1 Wkts W L 303- 9 53.0 302- 3 50.0 12 Aus Adelaide 24/01/1999 Aus 80 Runs W L 190-10 45.0 270-10 50.0 13 Eng Perth 29/01/1999 Eng 128 Runs W L 99-10 35.0 227- 7 50.0 14 Aus Perth 31/01/1999 Aus 45 Runs W L 229- 9 49.0 274- 7 50.0 15 Eng Sydney 03/02/1999 SL 11 Runs L F 181- 7 44.0 170- 9 44.0 16 Aus Melbourne 07/02/1999 Aus 43 Runs L L 267-10 48.0 310- 8 50.0

17 Pak Jamshedpur 19/03/1999 Pak 9 Runs L L 237-10 52.0 246- 9 50.0 18 Ind Nagpur 22/03/1999 Ind 80 Runs W L 207-10 38.0 287- 4 50.0 19 Pak Vishakhap'am 27/03/1999 SL 12 Runs W F 253- 8 50.0 241-10 49.0 20 Ind Pune 30/03/1999 Ind 51 Runs W L 235-10 45.5 286- 6 50.0

T - Toss (W)on/(L)ost, B - Batted (F)irst/(L)ast
For Score - Sri Lanka's score, Vs Score - Opposite team's score

Against Matches Won Lost NR Td Success %

New Zealand 1 1 0 0 0 100.00 Pakistan 2 1 1 0 0 50.00 England 5 2 3 0 0 40.00 Australia 5 1 4 0 0 20.00 India 4 0 4 0 0 0.00 Suth Africa 1 0 1 0 0 0.00 Zimbabwe 2 0 2 0 0 0.00

TOTAL 20 5 15 0 0 25.00

Contributed by: Atul Kahate (AKahate@yahoo.com)

Source :: Atul Kahate