Sri Lanka in the 1987 Cricket World Cup (Part 1)

The 1987 Cricket World Cup was also called as the Reliance World Cup. The matches were contested from 8th October 1987 to 8th November 1987 in venues in India and Pakistan. Australia won this World Cup and it was their first World Cup triumph. Pakistan, England, West Indies and Sri Lanka were the teams placed in Group B.

Group match against Pakistan

On 8th October 1987, Sri Lanka and Pakistan competed in a group match at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad. Pakistan accumulated 267 runs for 6 wickets in the stipulated 50 overs. The top scorer for the team was Javed Miandad who faced 100 balls and smashed 103 runs. Ravi Ratnayeke bowled 9 overs, conceded 47 runs and claimed 2 wickets. For Sri Lanka, Roshan Mahanama played excellently and amassed 89 runs in 117 deliveries. However, Sri Lanka collapsed to 252 in 49.2 overs. Abdul Qadir picked up 2 wickets while giving away 30 runs in 10 overs. Pakistan won this match by 15 runs. Miandad was declared as Man of the Match.

Group match against West Indies

The second group match of Sri Lanka was against West Indies and the venue was National Stadium, Karachi. Vivian Richards clobbered 181 runs in 125 deliveries as the West Indies reached a total of 360 for the loss of 4 wickets in 50 overs. Ravi Ratnayeke made 2 dismissals in 8 overs, during which 68 runs were scored. Sri Lanka was no match for the West Indies and succumbed to 169 for 4 wickets in the stipulated 50 overs. Arjuna Ranatunga made 52 runs in 93 balls. Carl Hooper bowled 10 overs in which 39 runs were scored and 2 wickets were taken. West Indies was victorious in this match by 191 runs. Richards was declared as the Man of the Match. >

Group match against England

England and Sri Lanka clashed against each other on 17th October 1987 at Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar. In the allocated 50 overs, England accrued 296 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Graham Gooch was the main scorer and he gathered 84 runs in 100 balls. Ravi Ratnayeke took 2 wickets while conceding 62 runs in 9 overs. The Sri Lankan innings were hampered by rain. So, their target was adjusted to 267 runs in 45 overs. Sri Lanka replied meekly and lost 8 wickets in 45 overs and collected 158 runs. Arjuna Ranatunga hit 40 runs in 67 balls. John Emburey bowled 10 overs and made 2 dismissals while conceding 26 runs. England won this match by 108 runs.

Thus, in the 1987 Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka lost its initial three group matches. So, the probability of Sri Lanka reaching the semi-final was very remote.