India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Match, Singer Cup 1996 Highlights: Sidhu and Srinath Inspire a Memorable Victory
India produced a determined all-round performance to defeat newly crowned world champions Sri Lanka by 12 runs in the second match of the Singer Cup 1996. Played at The Padang in Singapore on April 3, 1996, the low-scoring ODI was defined by Navjot Singh Sidhu’s courageous 94 and Javagal Srinath’s match-winning contribution with both bat and ball.
India vs Sri Lanka Singer Cup 1996 Match Summary
Match detailInformationTournamentSinger Cup 1995/96MatchIndia vs Sri Lanka, 2nd MatchDateApril 3, 1996VenueThe Padang, SingaporeTossIndia won the toss and battedIndia199 all out in 45.4 oversSri Lanka187 all out in 48.1 oversResultIndia won by 12 runsPlayer of the MatchJavagal Srinath
India’s total appeared modest, but Srinath and Venkatapathy Raju delivered a disciplined bowling performance to prevent Sri Lanka from completing the chase.
India Make a Difficult Start
After winning the toss, India elected to bat first. Sachin Tendulkar provided an aggressive beginning, scoring 28 from 31 balls with three fours and a six. His innings ended when he was caught by Sanath Jayasuriya off Pramodya Wickramasinghe.
India then lost wickets regularly. Captain Mohammad Azharuddin was run out for nine, while Rahul Dravid, making his international and ODI debut, scored three before Muttiah Muralitharan dismissed him. Sanjay Manjrekar, Ajay Jadeja, Nayan Mongia and Anil Kumble were also unable to make significant contributions.
At 136 for seven, India appeared unlikely to reach even 180. However, Sidhu continued to resist Sri Lanka’s attack.
Navjot Sidhu’s Courageous 94
Navjot Singh Sidhu played one of the most determined innings of his ODI career. While wickets fell at the other end, he remained patient, defended carefully and waited for scoring opportunities.
Sidhu scored 94 from 116 balls, hitting four boundaries. His innings lasted approximately three hours in exhausting Singapore conditions. He was reportedly taken to hospital after suffering heatstroke, demonstrating the physical difficulty under which his innings was played.
Sidhu received valuable support from Javagal Srinath. The pair added 55 runs for the eighth wicket, lifting India from 136 for seven to 191 before Chaminda Vaas finally bowled Sidhu six runs short of a century.
Although Sidhu missed a deserved hundred, his innings gave India a total that its bowlers could defend.
Javagal Srinath Adds Valuable Lower-Order Runs
Srinath played an important counterattacking innings of 28 not out from 32 balls. He struck one four and one six, helping India reach 199 before the final wicket fell in the 46th over.
Apart from Sidhu, only Tendulkar and Srinath reached double figures for India. Their contributions underlined how difficult batting had become during the innings.
Chaminda Vaas was Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 35 runs. Muralitharan and Aravinda de Silva claimed two wickets each, while Wickramasinghe and Jayasuriya took one apiece.
Srinath Destroys Sri Lanka’s Top Order
A target of 200 appeared achievable for a Sri Lankan side that had won the 1996 Cricket World Cup only weeks earlier. However, Srinath immediately transformed the match with a devastating opening spell.
He dismissed Romesh Kaluwitharana for four and then removed Sanath Jayasuriya for seven. Marvan Atapattu was trapped leg before for 10, while Venkatesh Prasad dismissed Aravinda de Silva for one. https://tinyurl.com/3vvsud7r
Sri Lanka were suddenly reduced to 23 for four, with their explosive top order back in the pavilion.
Mahanama and Tillakaratne Lead Sri Lanka’s Recovery
Roshan Mahanama attempted to rebuild Sri Lanka’s innings with a patient 59 from 124 balls. Captain Arjuna Ranatunga contributed 13 before being dismissed by Venkatapathy Raju.
Hashan Tillakaratne then joined Mahanama, and the pair put together a 92-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Tillakaratne scored 42 from 66 balls, helping Sri Lanka recover from 53 for five to 145 for six.
Their partnership brought Sri Lanka back into the contest, but the required scoring rate continued to rise.
Venkatapathy Raju Breaks the Partnership
Left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju delivered the crucial breakthrough by dismissing Tillakaratne. He then removed Mahanama for 59 and earlier accounted for Ranatunga.
Raju completed an excellent spell of three wickets for only 26 runs from ten overs, including a maiden. His economy rate of 2.60 placed enormous pressure on Sri Lanka’s middle and lower order.
Upul Chandana and Chaminda Vaas were dismissed with the score on 169. Sri Lanka’s final pair added 18 runs, but Srinath returned to complete the victory by dismissing Pramodya Wickramasinghe.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 187 in 48.1 overs, leaving India victorious by 12 runs.
Javagal Srinath’s Match-Winning Performance
Srinath was deservedly named Player of the Match. His performance included:
- An unbeaten 28 from 32 balls
- Four wickets for 35 runs from ten overs
- The dismissals of Kaluwitharana, Jayasuriya, Atapattu and Vaas
His early wickets placed Sri Lanka under immediate pressure, while his lower-order batting gave India the additional runs that ultimately proved decisive.
Rahul Dravid’s International Debut
The match also holds historical significance because it marked Rahul Dravid’s international debut. Batting at number four, Dravid scored three runs from four balls before being caught behind off Muralitharan.
Although his first innings was brief, Dravid contributed in the field by taking catches to dismiss Aravinda de Silva and Roshan Mahanama. He would later become one of India’s greatest batters and finish his ODI career with more than 10,000 runs. His journey at international level began in this memorable Singer Cup encounter.
Final Scorecard Highlights
India — 199 all out in 45.4 overs
Navjot Sidhu top-scored with 94, while Sachin Tendulkar and Javagal Srinath contributed 28 each. Chaminda Vaas took three wickets, with Muralitharan and Aravinda de Silva claiming two apiece.
Sri Lanka — 187 all out in 48.1 overs
Roshan Mahanama scored 59 and Hashan Tillakaratne made 42. Javagal Srinath finished with four for 35, Venkatapathy Raju took three for 26 and Venkatesh Prasad claimed one wicket.
Conclusion
India’s 12-run victory over Sri Lanka in the 1996 Singer Cup remains a classic example of successfully defending a modest ODI total. Sidhu’s brave 94 gave India something to bowl at, Srinath contributed valuable lower-order runs and India’s bowlers maintained their discipline against the reigning world champions.
Srinath’s four-wicket spell and Raju’s economical bowling completed a memorable win, while Rahul Dravid’s debut added another layer of historical importance to the match.
