Sri Lanka’s World Cup victory in 1996 was fashioned by the breathtakingbravado of their batting

Saadi Thawfeeq06-Mar-2003Sri Lanka’s World Cup victory in 1996 was fashioned by the breathtakingbravado of their batting. This time it is the bowling that has paved the wayfor a likely semi-final place.© ReutersLeft-arm fast-medium bowler Chaminda Vaas has been the hero, riding a waveof exceptional form, bowling with greater confidence than anytime in hiscareer.The form of Vaas, the tournament’s highest wicket-taking with 16 scalps,peaked during Sri Lanka’s nail-biting clash against the West Indies when theleft-armer bowled two incisive, ultimately match-winning, spells.The prize wicket, and the one he treasures more than any other, was that ofbatting maestro Brian Lara who was first restricted by his pinpoint accuracyand then snared with a cleverly disguised off-cutter that lolled him into aloose drive.”I was bowling against the wind. But that particular delivery to Lara, thewind suddenly changed direction and was behind me, which made the ball moverather late,” said Vaas describing the ball that dismissed the world’s mostdestructive batsmen.© reutersWith Vaas ensuring Sri Lanka go into the next round of the competition, hehas already taken over the position as the leading bowler in the tournamentwith 16 wickets from six matches, at an average of 9.87 and an economy rateof 3.14.Vaas’s bowling has been the key to Sri Lanka’s success in the World Cup sofar. Having started off wicketless against New Zealand , Vaas swept into therecord books with a hat-trick off the first three balls of a match againstBangladesh where he finished with figures of 6 for 25 and has not lookedback since.The breakdown of Vaas’ bowling figures: 0/22 v New Zealand, 6/25 vBangladesh, 3/15 v Canada, 3/41 v Kenya, 4/22 v West Indies, 0/33 v SouthAfrica.The secret of Vass’ success is that he is bowling with a fine rhythm whichhas enabled him to get closer to the wicket and make the ball run across thebatsmen committing him to play a stroke. He also has the ability to reverseswing with the old ball as he proved on a docile SSC pitch last year when hescalped 16 West Indians in a Test match.When Vaas toured South Africa four months ago, he was hardly the success heis at the moment. He struggled to get wickets both in the Tests (6 at 31.33)and one-day internationals (5 at 37.80). In Australia too he hardly hadsuccess taking only eight wickets (avg. 44.00) from 8 matches.© ReutersBut on his return home, he worked with the Cricket Board’s fast bowlingcoach Champaka Ramanayake on his line and rhythm and that seems to haveworked wonders for him.Vaas’ nearest rivals are fast bowlers Vasbert Drakes of West Indies who hastaken 16 wickets from six matches and Glenn McGrath of Australia, with 12from six and team mate Muralitharan with 12 from six. Unfortunately forDrakes, he will be heading home as West Indies failed to qualify for theSuper Sixes.Only one Sri Lankan bowler in past World Cups has taken more wickets thanVaas. Ashantha de Mel, a right-arm fast bowler finished with 17 wickets from6 matches in the 1983 World Cup held in England, one less than thetournament’s highest wicket-taker, Roger Binny of India.Vaas is set to pass De Mel’s World Cup record for Sri Lanka and also theall-time World Cup high of 20 wickets held jointly by New Zealand fastbowler Geoff Allott and Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, both achieved inthe last World Cup held in England in 1999.