Sri Lanka vs Australia: Aravinda de Silva and the 1996 World Cup Final
Sri Lanka changed one-day cricket at the 1996 World Cup with aggressive batting at the top of the order. In Lahore they beat Australia to win their first world title.
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Match facts
| Competition | Wills World Cup final |
|---|---|
| Date | 17 March 1996 |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Result | Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets |
The story of the match
Australia were well placed early on, with Mark Taylor making 74, but Aravinda de Silva took three wickets with his off-spin and Australia finished on 241 for 7.
Sri Lanka lost both openers early. De Silva then played a calm, classy innings, adding a big stand with Asanka Gurusinha, who made 65. He finished on 107 not out, with his captain Arjuna Ranatunga unbeaten on 47.
Key moments to watch for
- Taylor’s 74 gives Australia a strong start
- De Silva’s three wickets
- Both Sri Lanka openers out early
- De Silva’s unbeaten hundred
Why it’s one of the greatest cricket matches ever
It was Sri Lanka’s first World Cup and one of the great all-round performances in a final. Their attacking approach at the top of the order shaped the way one-day cricket was played for years.
More classic cricket matches
- Pakistan vs India: The 10-Wicket Win, 2021 T20 World Cup
- New Zealand vs South Africa: Grant Elliott’s Six, 2015 World Cup Semi-Final
- England vs India: India’s Lord’s Fightback, 2021
See all 40 on our list of the greatest matches ever, or catch up on this season on the latest highlights page.
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