March 13, 1996 is a date that every Indian cricket fan would like to forget.
It was the day when every Indian batsman, apart from Sachin, fell apart and Manoj Prabhakar was forced to bowl slowish off breaks.
The misery was completed with the match being abandoned due to crowd trouble and footage of a teary eyed Vinod Kambli being splashed across national television.
Redemption did come in three years and two months.
It was on May 26, 1999 when India exacted sweet revenge for the loss at Eden and in the process halted the defending champions run to the Super Six.
Sadagoppan Ramesh left early in the first over and what followed for the next 45 overs was a mix of poetry, rock n' roll and some good old Indian classical.
For it was the day when Dada and Dravid held court and contolled proceedings.
Dada was in his elements as he smashed 17 fours and 7 neat, clean, huge and big sixes in the stands.
In the process, he scored 183 runs which would end up as his best batting effort in one dayers.
Dravid, not to be outdone, came up with his own symphony and smashed 145 of 129 balls, thereby registering his best effort in one dayers till that date.
It was controlled aggression on their part as Dada and Dravid carted the bowlers across the County Ground at Taunton.
India ended up scoring it's ever highest ODI score, till that date, of 373 runs at a whopping rate of 7.46 runs per over.
Vaas and India's tormentor in 1996, Jayasuriya, bore the brunt of the carnage by going for more than 8 runs per over.The Indian batsmen scored 9 sixes and 35 fours in a boundary hitting spree which hitherto was never seen before.
While Dada built an edifice for himself as a neat n' clean six hitter, Dravid was able to shake off the Test player tag that he always carried.
Robin Singh came into his own and took a fifer as India completed a huge 157 run victory over the Lankans. In terms of runs, this was the biggest victory for any team in 1999.It was perhaps the most fitting reply India could've ever provided and provide some soothing relief to millions of fans who saw the ill fated match at Eden.
It was the day when every Indian batsman, apart from Sachin, fell apart and Manoj Prabhakar was forced to bowl slowish off breaks.
The misery was completed with the match being abandoned due to crowd trouble and footage of a teary eyed Vinod Kambli being splashed across national television.
Redemption did come in three years and two months.
It was on May 26, 1999 when India exacted sweet revenge for the loss at Eden and in the process halted the defending champions run to the Super Six.
Sadagoppan Ramesh left early in the first over and what followed for the next 45 overs was a mix of poetry, rock n' roll and some good old Indian classical.
For it was the day when Dada and Dravid held court and contolled proceedings.
Dada was in his elements as he smashed 17 fours and 7 neat, clean, huge and big sixes in the stands.
In the process, he scored 183 runs which would end up as his best batting effort in one dayers.
Dravid, not to be outdone, came up with his own symphony and smashed 145 of 129 balls, thereby registering his best effort in one dayers till that date.
It was controlled aggression on their part as Dada and Dravid carted the bowlers across the County Ground at Taunton.
India ended up scoring it's ever highest ODI score, till that date, of 373 runs at a whopping rate of 7.46 runs per over.
Vaas and India's tormentor in 1996, Jayasuriya, bore the brunt of the carnage by going for more than 8 runs per over.The Indian batsmen scored 9 sixes and 35 fours in a boundary hitting spree which hitherto was never seen before.
While Dada built an edifice for himself as a neat n' clean six hitter, Dravid was able to shake off the Test player tag that he always carried.
Robin Singh came into his own and took a fifer as India completed a huge 157 run victory over the Lankans. In terms of runs, this was the biggest victory for any team in 1999.It was perhaps the most fitting reply India could've ever provided and provide some soothing relief to millions of fans who saw the ill fated match at Eden.
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