Sri Lanka’s First Test Cricket Encounter

Hosts essay great strokes against England

In the world of cricket today, a lot can happen in less than a year. But Sri Lanka had to bide its time for over seven months to play its first Test match. And when that much anticipated privilege eventuated, it was against the country that invented the gentlemen’s game.

The island nation gained full membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in July of 1981.

At the Oval (a.k.a. the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium today) in a sultry Colombo joyfully enthused at the long awaited prospect of its maiden Test match, the Goliaths of England took on the newcomers to ICC ranks in a five day Test starting on 17 February.

Work and other pursuits came to a dead halt across sunny Sri Lanka as the island’s first ‘David’ – skipper Bandula Warnapura – inked his own and his team’s names in the record books.

The islanders’ captain was its first to win a toss, open the batting and face his country’s first ball in Test cricket – and score Sri Lanka’s maiden run in a major league game.

England’s pace demons Bob Willis and Ian Botham then subjected the newbies to a baptism of fire…

That brace of bowlers saw Sri Lanka reeling at 34 for 4 – with the cream of the batting back in the pavilion and its youngest duo of Ranjan Madugalle (65 plus the first boundary for Sri Lanka) and schoolboy cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga (54 and the premier maiden half-century) left fighting a rearguard action to see Sri Lanka notch up a somewhat respectable 218 after five wickets fell to the northerners’ southpaw Derek Underwood.

The visitors’ crawling reply of 223 – a meagre five runs ahead – barely managed to avoid a first innings lead for Sri Lanka. Then pacey Ashantha de Mel (4 for 70) had England against the ropes early, reeling at 40 for 3, from out of which David Gower (89) and skipper Keith Fletcher (45) rescued their teammates from further ignominy.

Batting a second time, the hosts by the third day had their legions of fans’ hopes up of a first Test victory by posting 152 for 3 – with a shared second wicket partnership of 83 between Warnapura (38) and the sublime Roy Dias (a silken 77 including 11 elegant fours).

But it was not to be, as a nightmare fourth day (the Sri Lankans lost their last seven wickets for a paltry eight runs to stumble from 167 for 3 to 175 all out) saw the cup dashed from the isle’s eager lips.

Given a target of 171 to win, England glided through thanks to Chris Tavaré’s towering 85, anchored by David Gower’s solid knock of 42, to guide the tourists to a seven wicket victory.

Work and other pursuits came to a dead halt across sunny Sri Lanka as the island’s first ‘David’ – skipper Bandula Warnapura – inked his own and his team’s names in the record books