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Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe watch 1996 World Cup Thriller

A Day to Remember at watch the SSC Colombo

Picture the bustling Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on February 21 1996, as Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe faced off in the Wills Cricket World Cup. It was the first time Zimbabwe played an ODI on Sri Lankan soil. The stadium was crisp, the fans eager, and the air thick with World Cup tension [InternalLink].

Zimbabwe Sets a Solid Total

Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat—a bold move given the expectations. Their innings weren’t explosive, but built with purpose. Alistair Campbell anchored the effort with a measured 75 off 102 balls, keeping Zimbabwe on course even as wickets tumbled around him [InternalLink]. Guy Whittall contributed a steady 35, Craig Evans added a brisk 39 not out, and despite some early dismissals, Zimbabwe posted 228 for 6 in their 50 overs [InternalLink]. Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan stemmed the flow of runs; Vaas took 2 for 30, while Murali chipped in with 1 for 37 [InternalLink].

Sri Lanka’s Chase watch Begins Cautiously

Sri Lanka’s reply started under pressure. Sanath Jayasuriya fell cheaply to Heath Streak, and Romesh Kaluwitharana followed soon after [InternalLink]. The scoreboard read two early wickets down for just 23.

A Record‑Breaking Partnership

Enter Asanka Gurusinha and Aravinda de Silva. They stitched together a mesmerising 172‑run third‑wicket partnership—the highest third‑wicket stand for Sri Lanka in ODIs and one of the most significant in World Cup history [InternalLink]. Gurusinha paced his innings with precision—87 off 100 balls with 5 fours and 6 sixes—holding fort while de Silva unleashed elegance and aggression—it was 91 off 86 balls, packed with 10 fours and 2 towering sixes [InternalLink]. De Silva’s knock set a new benchmark: the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan in a World Cup match, surpassing Roshan Mahanama’s 89 from 1987 [InternalLink].

The Finish watch Line

Asuka Gurusinha was run out when settled, and de Silva fell soon after—but the chase was secure. Captain Arjuna Ranatunga (13* off 11) and Hashan Tillakaratne (7*) navigated the final overs. Sri Lanka sealed the win in 37 overs—winning by 6 wickets with 78 balls to spare [InternalLink].

Player of the Match

Unsurprisingly, Aravinda de Silva earned Player of the Match honours for his blistering 91 and instrumental role in that game‑defining partnership [InternalLink].

Why This Match Still watch Matters

• Historic firsts: It marked Zimbabwe’s first ODI played in Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka’s response made a statement early in the tournament [InternalLink].
• Record‑setting stand: The 172‑run partnership remains an iconic highlight for Sri Lanka in World Cups [InternalLink].
• Momentum builder: This victory helped galvanise Sri Lanka’s journey through the tournament, culminating in their upset World Cup triumph [InternalLink].
• Asian flair on display: The blend of cautious flair and aggressive acceleration from de Silva and Gurusinha foreshadowed Sri Lanka’s dominating style in the tournament, with de Silva becoming a central figure in their success [InternalLink].

Footnotes of watch Cricket History

This match was a stepping stone toward one of cricket’s greatest underdog stories. Sri Lanka, once regarded as minnows, rode a wave of home‑grown brilliance to lift the 1996 World Cup [InternalLink].

For more deep dives on classic World Cup moments like this, check our retrospectives [InternalLink].

External Link: Explore the full scorecard and ball‑by‑ball analysis on ESPNcricinfo (no dashes here please): https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/wills-world-cup-1995-96-60981/sri-lanka-vs-zimbabwe-9th-match-65164/full-scorecard

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