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Sri Lanka came up with a scintillating all-round show in the final of the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy to get the better of India.
A Chaminda Vaas-led attack bowled India out for 54 to set up a 245-run win in Sharjah. (Image: ICC/X, formerly Twitter)
India’s chances of winning the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy 2000 were crushed in the final. On this day (October 29) in 2000, Sri Lanka came up with a scintillating all-round show in the final of the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy to get the better of India.
Sri Lanka had entered the final stage on the back of some clinical performances. The final match, played in Sharjah, appeared to be one-sided but fans certainly witnessed a terrific brand of cricket, exhibited by the Sri Lanka cricketers. Sanath Jayasuriya showcased some fabulous batting in the game to register his highest ODI score of 189.
Winning the toss, the then Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya decided to bat first. The decision did pay off as Sri Lanka went on to post a mammoth total of 299 at the loss of five wickets. Captain Jayasuriya led from the front and came up with a blistering knock of 189 off 161 balls. His sublime innings comprised 21 boundaries and four maximums. Sourav Ganguly, eventually, picked up the wicket of Jayasuriya in the 49th over of the final.
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Russel Arnold also chipped in with a vital knock of unbeaten 52 off 62 deliveries. With Sri Lanka reeling at 116/4 at one point, the Sanath Jayasuriya-led side appeared to be in a dire situation. But Arnold and Sanath Jayasuriya’s spectacular batting guided Sri Lanka to a solid total. For India, Zaheer Khan, Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Venkatesh Prasad claimed one wicket each.
India failed to kickstart their run chase on a promising note with their two opening batters – Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar—returning to the dressing room in the first five overs. While Ganguly scored three runs, Tendulkar was dismissed for five. Sri Lanka pacer Chaminda Vaas claimed both the wickets.
The Indian players failed to recover from the initial scare and their batting line-up soon collapsed like a house of cards. For India, only Robin Singh managed to breach the two-digit mark in the game. Chaminda Vaas turned out to be the most impactful bowler for Sri Lanka in the final. The left-arm pacer secured a five-wicket haul as India skittled for 54.
Muttiah Muralitharan also contributed significantly having scalped three wickets. Sanath Jayasuriya was adjudged Player of the Match in the final for his stupendous batting.
