Flashback: The first-ever ODI chase 300-plus total
23rd February 1992 is a date that will be etched in the minds of Sri Lankan cricket fans. For, it was on this date that the Sri Lankan side scripted history, and chased down its first-ever 300 plus target in ODI cricket against the Zimbabwe side.
On this historic date, the Zimbabwe side batted first and posted a challenging total of 312/4 on the board. Legendary batter Andy Flower scored a superb 115 at the top of the order for the Zimbabwe side. Apart from Flower, Andrew Waller scored a murderous 83* off just 45 deliveries.
With the ball, Pramodya Wickremasinghe and Asanka Gurusinha were the picks of the bowlers for Sri Lanka. Both these bowlers scalped 2 wickets each.
In reply, half-centuries from Roshan Mahanama, Athula Samarasekara and the legendary Arjuna Ranatunga helped the Sri Lankan side chase down the target with 3 wickets to spare. The opening duo of Mahanama and Samarasekara set the tone for the chase with a superb 128-run partnership.
Even though Sri Lanka lost 3 quick wickets after that, Ranatunga stepped up and scored a match-winning 88* off just 61 deliveries to steer his side past the finish line. Sanath Jayasuriya and Hashan Tillakaratne also chipped in with handy contributions of 32 and 18 respectively as Sri Lanka cantered past the target with 4 deliveries left.
Eddo Brandes was outstanding with the ball and scalped a 3-wicket haul. Apart from Brandes, the likes of Athanasios Traicos, David Houghton and Malcolm Jarvis picked up a wicket each. Andy Flower won the Player of the Match award in spite of ending up on the losing side.
Yes, 30 years have passed since this day, and ODI cricket has changed. A total of above 300 is no longer a safe one. But then, this match is special, for it was the first of its kind, especially for Sri Lankan cricket.
