Hail a hero: just six balls, perhaps, but what a moment for PulasthiGunaratne

Charlie Austin02-Mar-2003Hail a hero: just six balls, perhaps, but what a moment for PulasthiGunaratne!Summoned to the crease to bowl the final over, amidst heart-poundingtension, Gunaratne held his nerve against a rampant Ramnaresh Sarwan.© CricInfoHis first spell had proved expensive after an out-of-form Chris Gaylelaunched a speculative assault after tight early overs from Sri Lanka’s newball pair.”The way we are playing at the moment I think we have a good chance, but weneed to hold all the catches and get more runs on the boardhe way we areplaying at the moment I think we have a good chance, but we need to hold allthe catches and get more runs on the board.”
(Sanath Jayasuriya)But, Murali apart, whose penultimate over was brilliant, Sarwan was nowhammering the slow bowlers and Jayasuriya turned to his committee.The vote was the relatively inexperienced Gunaratne: a brave choice.The 28-year-old is a normal guy: likes a Bacardi, enjoys a laugh.”What a clifhanger the Windies affair proved to be. Jayasuriya was a bundleof nerves running out Aravinda and even Marvan. We certainly have thepotential to do it if we use our heads and don’t panic.”
(Gihan)His bowling is, on first inspection anyhow, distinctly run-of-the-mill:average in pace and lacking in teeth.But the secret of Gunaratne, and the reason why he is favoured by themanagement and so respected by teammates, is his temperament.Unlike some of the treacle-brained trundlers that have gone before, whowould struggle to walk in a straight line let alone bowl straight in thesame situation, Gunaratne can withstand pressure.He first indicated that precious attribute during the Morocco Cup final lastyear and since then he was been groomed for what happened last night.Of course, it was not just Gunaratne that won the game for Sri Lanka.© CricInfo14 runs off the final over was always going to tough but 16 from two was, inrelative terms, a stroll down Table Mountain.However – surprise, surprise – Muralitharan delivered a perfect over.To concede just a scampered single and leg bye was truly exceptional – hehad every right to punch the air afterwards in triumph.And how could be forget the performance of Chaminda Vaas, the deserved manof the match for a priceless cameo and two incisive spells that swung thematch towards Sri Lanka.His pinpoint accuracy, against Brian Lara in particular, and skillfulvariations told of a man at the peak of his powers.© ReutersVaas has been a force in sub-continental surfaces for sometime now but,somewhat bizarrely, has hitherto struggled on the seamer friendly pitchesfound overseas.But technical adjustments made after Sri Lanka’s tour to South Africa,coupled with the steadily increasing confidence that rides with maturity,has allowed him to put that failure to bed.”I went back from South Africa and did some home work on my bowling with mycoaches. I have got my rhythm going and I am bowling with the seam upright”.
(Chaminda Vaas)Sri Lanka are not out of the woods yet. Far from it.Contrary to some commentators’ assertions that the West Indies match was amust-win encounter, it was not – South Africa is the crunch game.Should they lose that then four teams will be tied on 16 points – SouthAfrica, Kenya, New Zealand and Sri Lanka – and the head-to-head rule willapply.The two African hosts will progress having the greater number of winsamongst the four.Net run rate will then spilt New Zealand and Sri Lanka.”A great team performance but the real heroes were Jayasuriya andTillekaratne, who scored virtually half the Sri Lankan runs and Vaas andMurali who took half the West Indian wickets, while conceding just over 21%of their opponents total runs from 40% of the balls bowled.”
(Mike Kemp)Should Sri Lanka win heavily against Canada then there could be problems.At least Sri Lanka have the advantage of playing last and thus knowing whatthey have to do.Such calculations will all be irrelevant though if Sri Lanka can overcomeSouth Africa and exact sweet revenge for their battering last November.