Semifinal of WC 1996, a day to forget for Indians

Kolkata: Thursday would be the second time that the Eden Gardens will host an ODI World Cup semifinal. The first, on March 13, 1996 remains etched in memory for all the wrong reasons. It was the day when an unruly crowd prevailed and an international match had to be abandoned due to trouble in the stands. The contest between India, led by Mohammad Azharuddin and Arjuna Ranatunga’s Sri Lanka, was awarded to the latter by match referee Clive Lloyd after bottles rained into the ground and stands were set on fire. India as such were on the brink of defeat, but it’s not the way a match should end. A crowd of around one lakh ten thousand fetched up to shout India into the final. So far so good and when Azharuddin won the toss and decided to field, expecting turn, there was a murmur of excitement. The murmur grew into a roar when Sri Lanka were reduced to 35 for 3 with Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Asanka Gurusinha back in the pavilion. However, Aravinda de Silva, who was later named Player of the Match, stood like a defiant rock, thwarting India’s attempt to control the game. He was the next man to depart for 66. Roshan Mahanama grafted for his 55 before retiring hurt and Ranatunga with a gritty 35, ensured Sri Lanka ended at a decent 251/8. The India chase too got off to a poor start with Navjot Sidhu being dismissed early. However, Sachin Tendulkar played another classy innings of 65 and with Sanjay Manjrekar, took the score to 98. It was his dismissal, stumped by Romesh Kaluwitharana off Sanath Jayasuriya, that triggered a collapse and the subsequent mayhem. From 98 for one, India were reduced to 120 for 8. The rumbling in the stadium grew louder and when Aashish Kapoor became the eighth wicket to fall, the crowd just lost its cool. Plastic bottles and fruits started raining on the ground. Some officials later claimed a few glass bottles were also used as missiles. Ranatunga put his foot down and decided to lead his team out of the ground even as the officials tried to persuade him to continue. He was not budging from his stand. Sri Lanka did return after around 20 minutes, but even before Muttiah Muralitharan could bowl the second ball of the 35th over, more bottles flew into the ground. Fire was lit at various places in the stands and Lloyd, after consultation with umpires Cyril Mitchley and Steve Dunne, announced that the match could not proceed further. Vinod Kambli, who was at the crease with a laboured 10 runs, was seen pleading with the officials to allow the game to continue, tears streaming down his cheeks. But the decision had been made and there was no going back.
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