It was a great day for Indian cricket at Taunton on may 26 as India comprehensively defeated Sri Lanka in a league match of the ongoing World Cup Cricket 1999.

The win paves the way for India’s entry into the super six of the World Cup. Collecting two more points from this victory, India is now ranked third in the ranking table of Group A, behind South Africa and England, but ahead of Zimbabwe, Kenya and Sri Lanka. India is now within hitting distance of the second rank in the Group, which it will achieve if it defeats England in the match on May 29.

At Taunton today, the Sri Lankan captain, Arjuna Ranatunga won the toss and put India in to bat. No one could have imagined at that time that the avalanche of runs from the bats of Rahul Dravid and Saurabh Ganguly would shatter so many records in a single day.

India made its highest ever one day score of 373 runs. Ganguly’s 183 was the highest ever by an Indian, bettering Kapil Dev’s 175. And Dravid made his individual best of 145. What is more, the 318 run partnership was the highest for any wicket in one-day cricket, surpassing the previous best by 43 runs.

Ganguly and Dravid batted Sri Lanka out of the match. The pole-axed Sri Lankan batsmen appeared bewildered at the batting assault and their innings folded up at 216.

India comprehensively won the match. But Sri Lanka still has the statistical chance of making it to the super six. If the match points of India, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka are all tied at four points each, Sri Lanka can pulverize the Kenyan bowling on May 30 and improve its net run rate sufficiently to make it to the super six.

As for India, if it defeats England on May 29, it can grab the second rank in its group, something which was considered impossible not very long ago when India had lost its first two matches to South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Teaches one not to give up, whatever the odds. To persevere and to prevail. What?

As an aside, one may mention that hosts England can still be knocked out at the league stage itself. If Zimbabwe defeats South Africa and India defeats England, it may be South Africa, India and Zimbabwe that go into the super six from this group, and England may be knocked out by virtue of its low net run rate at that point of time. One day cricket, then, is full of possibilities.

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