The 1996 World Cup saw co-hosts Sri Lanka emerge as world champions as they finally fulfilled their potential at the biggest stage in world cricket.
It was not a one man show but an overall team performance which allowed the islanders to win the title despite having more superior opponents in Australia, West Indies, Pakistan, India and South Africa.
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More than often it is the bowling which wins matches but 1996 saw Sri Lanka win the world cup through their batting prowess led by Arvinda de Silva, skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, Asanka Gurusinha and Sanath Jayasuriya.
Arvinda hit peak form at the right moment and Kenya caved in during that purple patch and were beaten comprehensively.
Riding on Arvinda’s 115-ball 145, laced with as many as 14 boundaries and five sixes, Sri Lanka posted the biggest total of the 1996 world cup, 398 for five in 50 overs, and this record stands as the second highest total in world cup history.
Arvinda struck his 14 boundaries at will – lofting the bowlers whenever wanted or playing delightful cover drive. He finished the tournament with 448 runs from six matches with two centuries and as many fifties plundering bowlers for 57 boundaries and seven sixes.
