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The prince of Sri Lankan Cricket, Aravinda De Silva.

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[Video] Aravinda De Silva 134 (131) Vs Pakistan | 1997

Cricinfo: SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, 7th APR 1997 - Aravinda De Silva struck a brilliant 134 off 131 balls to give world champions Sri Lanka a 51-run victory over Pakistan in the Singer Akai Cup here on Monday - and earned them a place in Friday's final.

The classy 31-year-old, who fell three short of his first Sharjah hundred against Pakistan on Friday, smashed four sixes and 11 boundaries after coming in at 11 for two in the sixth over.

De Silva's eighth one-day hundred lifted Sri Lanka to an imposing 251 for seven.

Scorecard

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[Video] Aravinda De Silva 112 | Kent Vs Lancs | 1995

Cricinfo: Lancashire deserved their success, which earned the club and the players #35,000, a gold trophy and, every bit as important, the satisfaction and relief of winning. For those outside the Du- chy, however, it was de Silva`s oriental genius - coming from east of the Medway he is presumably a man of Kent - which made the day memorable.

Bold, quick-footed and hitting the ball immensely hard for so small a man on his way to 112 off 95 balls, only the third hundred in the July final, he upstaged even Mike Atherton and John Crawley, whose innings earlier in the day had set the standard of quality. Click to expand...

Lankan stars bat for Ramayana sites

The Hindu: When they were playing the gentleman’s game, Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva saw to it that their team fulfilled the expectations of their cricket board. These days the two former Sri Lankan cricketers are busy wooing Indian tourists to their island nation as they have both been appointed its tourism ambassadors.

Unveiling a thematic programme, ‘Following the Trails of Ramayana’, Ranatunga said he had come to Delhi to offer Indian tourists a chance to visit prominent religious sites as cited in Valmiki’s Ramayana. “I am not an expert on Ramayana and this is my first assignment as a tourism ambassador to India. Earlier I had the pleasure of travelling to cricket playing countries as Deputy Minister of Tourism. Now I have been assigned the task of encouraging people in India to visit our country,” he said.

Pointing out that the Indian cricket team will travel to Sri Lanka in July to play matches against his national team, Arjuna said: “I hope Indian tourists also come along as they would not only be able to watch the matches live but also get an excellent opportunity to visit some of the sites connected with the Ramayana..”

Aravinda said: “When the Minister of Tourism gave me the mission to promote tourism, I decided to give it my best. Today I am more educated about thee sacred places that we should all explore.”

Aravinda added, “We have had great hospitality in India and I often keep going to Bangalore as I have some friends there. Now I want to extend the same generosity and kindness in our country.”

Based on the findings of research, the thematic programme reveals there are over 50 sites in Sri Lanka connected with the Ramayana where the names of Lord Rama, Sita and Ravana find resonance.

By Madhur Tankha for The Hindu. Click to expand...

Arjuna and Aravinda Sri Lanka's new tourism ambassadors

The Ministry of Tourism early this week announced the appointment of Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda De Silva as Ambassadors of Tourism.

Who better to take on the role as tourism ambassadors than the nations most prominent sportsman said Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority George Michael. Click to expand...

[Video] The Sri Lankan brand of Cricket [2]

Sri Lanka's fan base has extended beyond the shores of Sri Lanka. Gone are the days when Sri Lankan Cricket was only followed by it's die hard fan base on the island. With Youtube and other online video hosts portraying the islanders talent, youngsters from various other nations are showing interest in Lanka cricket, not to mention the number of Americans following the Lions these days. My videos have a collective view count of over 1.5 Million, Youtube is taking Cricket to the the average American household, something even the ICC has failed to do.

The Lions' brand of cricket is the key to it's following. Sri Lanka have always been known for their aggressive and positive approach to Cricket, The Sri Lankan brand of Cricket.





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The Sri Lankan brand of Cricket [1]

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[Video] Aravinda De Silva 46*(37) Vs Australia | 1985

Aravinda came in to bat with 5 wickets down and Sri Lanka needing 52 win off 41 deliveries.

Signaling his intension early 'Mad Max' De Silva strolled down the pitch to Geoff Lawson and hit him straight back down the ground for six. Aravinda finished the match off with yet another six.

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[Video] 1996 Wills World Cup Finals | Sri Lanka Vs Australia

"The Sri Lankans, coached by Dav Whatmore and captained by Arjuna Ranatunga, used Player of the Tournament Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana as opening batsmen to take advantage of the fielding restrictions during the first 15 overs of each innings. At a time when 50 or 60 runs in the first 15 overs was considered adequate, Sri Lanka scored 117 runs in those overs against India, 123 against Kenya, 121 against England in the quarter-final and 86 against India in the semi-final. Against Kenya, Sri Lanka made 398 for 5, a new record for the highest team score in a one-day international that stood until April 2006."

1996 World Cup Finals Highlights | Run time 12:27




1996 World Cup Final - Wrap up by Greg Richie


1996 World Cup Final - Presentation Ceremony




1996 World Cup Final - Aravinda Accepting MOM Award


1996 World Cup Final - Channel 9 News Report


1996 World Cup Final - Sanath accepting MVP award

• CricInfo's review of the 1996 World Cup
• WC96: World Cup 1996 (in Ind-Pak-SL), Feb-Mar 1996 - Summary of Results
• WC96: World Cup 1996 (in Ind-Pak-SL), Feb-Mar 1996 - Points Table
• WC96: Scorecards and Reports of Matches
• WC96: News & Articles about the 1996 World Cup
• WC96: Statistics and Records
• WC96: Players
• WC96: Grounds
• WC96: Playing conditions
• World Cup Statistics (1975-1992)
• WC96: News & Articles - 1 March - 19 March 1996
• WC96: News & Articles - Post World Cup - 20 March Onwards
• WC96: News & Articles - February 1996
• WC96: News & Articles - January 1996
• WC96: News & Articles - 1993 To 1995

Courtesy Cricinfo.

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Aravinda's father Sam De Silva passes away

My father lived like a rock – Aravinda: “My father never gave me or my sister (Araliya) any fish, he just tought us how to fish” thats how former Sri Lanka skipper Aravinda de Silva explained his father’s approach in life.

“In his sixty years on this earth I do not think he even took a Panadol, until we discovered his killer decease – Cancer. By the time we did so it was too late.

“He was always like a rock in his statue, but, very gentle in his deeds. He even bought land for our domestics and settled them in their lives.” added the ex-Sri Lanka cricketer.

However what moved Aravinda the most was a note left for his son Sampras by Sam at his death bed. It read -- “Profit, loss, prosperity, adversity, health, illness, praise and disgrace. – if you can face all this like a rock without shaking like a rock in a storm you are a great man.

One little plea from the former great Lankan cricketer who guided his nation to that memorable World Cup victory. “Please do not send any flowers, if at all make all donations to the Cancer Hospital in Maharagama. You also can put your donations into the till that is kept in our residence for that purpose”.

Sam leaves his wife Indrani along with his son Aravinda and daughter Araliya and grand children – Satya and Sampras. Remains will be at 85/5, Sri Dhammadara Mawatha, Ratmalana till Monday. Click to expand...

[Video] Aravinda De Silva 66 (47) Vs India | 1996 Wills World Cup 1st Semi Final

For a glorious hour de Silva, a genius tuned to perfect pitch for the big occasion, took on India by himself. He hit the ball smoothly through the gaps with the full face of the bat, steely wrists allowing him to place it where he wanted. He uses the bat, as Neville Cardus once wrote of Reggie Spooner, as a lady might use her fan.

There were 11 fours in his fifty made from only 32 balls, the majority rifled through extra cover. - Cricinfo

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[Video] Highest Team Total in Test Cricket History 952-6 Declared

R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (known prior to June 1994 as the Khetterama Cricket Stadium) is best remembered for holding the world record for the highest Test total - 952/6 declared by Sri Lanka against India in the first test of the 1997/98 series in which former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 and Roshan Mahanama 225, the pair sharing the highest partnership for any wicket in Test cricket with 576 for the second wicket.

At close of play, Sri Lanka were 587/1 with Jayasuriya 326* and Mahanama 211* at the crease. Jayasuriya became the first ever Sri Lankan to score 300 runs in a Test.

The West Indian pair of Garry Sobers and Frank Worrell were the only ones before today to bat throughout two consecutive days (against England at Bridgetown in 1959-60). On day five, Kumble got the break through for India, sending Mahanama (225r 753m 561b 27x4 0x6) back (lbw) with the scoreboard reading 615/2!

Their partnership of 576 runs was the highest test partnership for any wicket. (previous: 467 MD Crowe and AH Jones, New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Wellington, 1990/91) Jayasuriya (340r 799m 578b 36x4 2x6) was the next to go, in the very next over, caught Ganguly, bowled Chauhan, with the score reading 615/3.

Jayasuriya's marathon and chanceless innings of 340 was the fourth highest in test cricket, after Lara's 375, Garry Sobers' 365 (not out), and Len Hutton's 364. All the Indian fielders ran to congratulate him as he departed with his head held down as he had missed his chance to overtake Lara's record.

They applauded him all the way to the pavilion from where he got a standing ovation. India had to suffer more batting practice by de Silva (126), Ranatunga (86) and Jayawardene (66). There were 58 extras when the innings ended at 952 for 6 wickets declared in 271 overs.

The team record 952/6d beat the previous best, 903-7d by England v Australia at The Oval in 1938 and still stands. This total is also the 3rd highest team total in First-class cricket (Highest: 1107, Victoria v New South Wales at Melbourne, 1926/27).
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[FLASHBACK] 1996 Wills World Cup | 1st Semi Final | SL Vs IND

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