Siddath Wettimuny 96 off 145 Balls 180 Mins 13 Fours vs vs Australia at Kandy Only Test in April 1983-84

Mr. Devotor

Step back in time to April 1983 and relive one of the most graceful yet underrated innings in Sri Lankan cricket history. In this video, we bring you rare footage of Sidath Wettimuny’s splendid 96-run knock against a powerful Australian side at Kandy, during the Only Test match of the tour.  Facing a seasoned Australian bowling lineup, a young and composed Sidath Wettimuny displayed remarkable temperament, occupying the crease for 180 minutes, facing 145 deliveries, and stroking 13 crisp boundaries. Though he fell just short of a maiden Test century, the innings was a symbol of elegance, patience, and mental strength — qualities that defined his career.  Wettimuny was one of the earliest pillars of Sri Lanka’s Test journey. With his classic technique and unshakable composure, he helped lay the foundation for Sri Lanka’s future cricketing triumphs. He later became the first Sri Lankan to score a Test century in England with a monumental 190 at Lord’s in 1984.  This rare innings against Australia may have been forgotten by many, but today, we bring it back to light. A tribute to a true gentleman of the game — Sidath Wettimuny.  📺 Watch now and witness a masterclass in traditional Test match batting. Don’t forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe for more classic cricket moments!  #SidathWettimuny #ClassicCricket #SriLankaCricket #CricketLegends #TestCricket #VintageCricket #CricketHistory #1983Cricket #SriLankaVsAustralia #CricketHighlights #CricketInKandy

Transcript

00:00Step into the timeless charm of April 1983, where the gentle breeze of candy carried whispers

00:07of resilience and class. In this rare footage, witness a young Siddharth with many crafting

00:12an innings that spoke louder than centuries. A sublime 96 runs from 145 balls, laced with 13

00:20graceful boundaries, carved over 180 minutes of pure concentration and elegant defiance,

00:26against the experience and battle-hardened Australians. Whitman stood like a calm lighthouse

00:32amidst a stormy sea. With a steel head and a silken wrist, he rappelled the fury of pace and spin,

00:38playing each ball on its matter, earning every run with dignity, though the magical three figures

00:44narrowly missed him. What he left behind was more than a score, it was a statement. So join us now

00:50as we rewind to an era when technique triumphed over aggression and courage came padded

00:56in words. Let the vintage bleed sings again. Here comes a rare masterclass from the bat of Siddharth

01:02with many. Having sent Sri Lanka in for innings,

01:12we've got

01:16five and a half hours on the fourth day and if the match continues into the fifth, another five and a

01:23half which means eleven hours left in the five-day game. There is a rather interesting article here in

01:32the souvenir. Other nations too had humble beginnings. And here's Lily rolling the first ball in the Sri Lanka

01:42second in the second innings. And Vettomone is off the mark as the ball races to the boundary back for the point.

01:52It's Lily rolling to Vettomone.

02:05Another beautiful shot, well-timed indeed, and that's a four. Perfect timing.

02:11Unfortunately, they failed in the first innings of this five-day test. Vettomone now facing Lily.

02:28Having gone into the pavilion for tea and here he is coming in now, rolling to Vettomone.

02:33Another nice shot. That could be a four. Back for the point. It's being chased there by Hogan.

02:41No, he won't get at it. That's a four. Lily.

02:53One run to Roy Dice. End of Lily is over.

02:57Five moves completed. Sri Lanka 19 for one with Vettomone on 14, betting very well at the moment.

03:09And with him, Roy Dice on one. The batsmen out is in Fernando for three.

03:14And it's Vettomone to face up to Rodney Hogg from the northern end.

03:27Goes to him now. And this one, a flashing drive between cover and extra cover for four runs.

03:33Vettomone playing that shot.

03:38Yardley to Vettomone.

03:40Vettomone not at all happy against Yardley. The ball running down off his pad down to

03:47Nongdeg. Lily walks across. No runs attempted.

03:54And it comes in again to Vettomone.

03:57Balls on this one again. Vettomone tucks this away.

04:00Gets thick edge down to the third man boundary. It'll be picked up by Vessels just inside it.

04:07But the batsman will get three runs for it. So Vettomone getting three runs.

04:10He moves on to 22 at the total to 30. Vettomone is shot into the covers.

04:14And here's Lily going to go to Vettomone. And this one driven very nicely indeed.

04:21Wood doesn't even bother to chase it. And it's four runs.

04:26Vettomone on 29 faces up to Lily.

04:28And steered between third slip and galley down to the third man boundary. It's going to be four runs.

04:38Four more to Vettomone. It takes him out to 33. The total of 45 runs.

04:42Yardley to go to Vettomone. And it's going up in there. And it's going to be out.

04:47And once again the Australians indulging in some histrionics as Vettomone went forward.

05:01I couldn't, we couldn't see what happened from here but certainly the ball went up into there

05:05whether it went off bat and pad or whether it went off the pad only. So the umpire judges it

05:12as having gone off the pad. So Vettomone is still there. Score 47 for one. Vettomone on 30. Dyer's on 10.

05:21There's 50 coming up in 62 minutes. And here's Hogan once again to bowl to Vettomone. And defensively forward.

05:30No run. Here's. And that's a lovely shot by Dyer playing his pitch stroke. Vettomone and it's four runs.

05:42So Sri Lanka leading 245 to avert innings. Now 55 for one. 190 runs still needed. Yardley to Vettomone.

05:55This one beats him as it goes forward. And there's a long chase on Lily but he gives it. He picks it up.

06:03That's when go through for three runs.

06:15Hogan bowling to Vettomone. Nice shot beats Yalup. Yalup is chasing that one. It's doubtful as to whether he'll get it.

06:24Yes, he's stopped it. Inches inside the line. And the Vettomone have taken three runs off that stroke.

06:38Yes, the umpires realize that it is bad life.

06:42Well, we are still about nine minutes away from stumps and the game has been suspended.

06:56There you have the board. 64 for two wickets. Sri Lanka in their second innings.

07:02Well, there they are. Vettomone, nearer to the camera. And Rumesh Ratnayaka, the Torah of the two,

07:12walking back to perhaps play down the last five minutes of play in this third day's play of the five-day game, Australia.

07:33Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka not faring too well.

07:37Falling short by 44 runs to avoid the follow-on in the first innings.

07:47Hogan comes in with his next delivery to Vettomone.

07:51Back for the point and Yalup is chasing it desperately there. It may be a four.

07:58Now he stops it again, but a foot away from the boundary.

08:02And the batsmen have taken three runs off that stroke.

08:10And with him, night watchman, Rumesh Ratnayaka on four. Sri Lanka, 71 for two.

08:17And to take strike, it will be Siddharth Vettomone. And to open the attack from the northern end, Bruce Yardley.

08:31Siddharth Vettomone.

08:40Whistles, the Silly Point border, mid-off.

08:45On the first runs of the morning, as Vettomone drives in the covers.

08:54But overall, his batting has been extremely disciplined.

08:57Front foot again.

09:09Hogan again coming in to ball to Vettomone.

09:18That's Lily out there.

09:20One run.

09:24That's Yardley coming in again to ball to Vettomone.

09:34It's collected there by Hogg and the 100 comes up.

09:44Vettomone takes strike from Hogan.

09:46Very tricky shot, that one.

09:52Hogan to Vettomone.

09:59Ball faster than usual.

10:02And Vettomone apparently beaten by the pace of that one.

10:10As Yardley goes in to ball to Vettomone,

10:12turn past Chappell at back with short leg for a single.

10:17The total moves on to 121 for three.

10:20And Vettomone goes on.

10:22Which incidentally also the first test hundred scored by a Sri Lankan.

10:26Here's Yardley bowling to him again.

10:28Just finally tries to turn him around.

10:29Yes, I think he did get a touch that.

10:31Going down to fine leg, Hogg comes in.

10:36It's a leg by.

10:36So one run the total takes out of 149 for three.

10:42The scoreboard indicating 93 to Vettomone.

10:44But that was batsman out.

10:49Mendez for six.

10:51Tyus for ten.

10:51Fernando for three.

10:53And Ratnaker for a very fine knock of 30.

10:56At the wickets Vettomone on 92.

10:58And the new batsman Ranjan Madhugalle still to face the ball.

11:02So just under half an hour left.

11:06For lunch.

11:08Vettomone is on 92.

11:10And incidentally Sri Lanka needing 92 runs to avert the innings.

11:16This one gets to the back foot and cuts him well.

11:18It's going to be four runs.

11:19Yardley can't get to it.

11:21So four more taking Vettomone on to 96.

11:25And the total to 155.

11:28155 for four.

11:31The end of Hoggans over.

11:32Vettomone on 96.

11:35Radhugalle.

11:35Siddharth Vettomone, a name etched in the annals of Sri Lankan cricket history,

11:57was one of the pioneers who helped shape the identity of Sri Lanka's test team during its formative years.

12:04Born on August 12, 1956.

12:06Siddharth came from a cricketing family and was known for his classical technique.

12:11Calm temperament and unshakable concentration at the crease.

12:15A right-handed opening batsman.

12:17He was not flashy or flamboyant.

12:19But his style consists of grace and reliability.

12:22The kind of batsman who would rather build any nicks brick by brick than tear apart and attack.

12:28Vettomone had the rare ability to blunt hostile bowling with patience and finances.

12:33Anchoring the innings under pressure.

12:35His most iconic performance came at Lord's in 1984.

12:40Where he became the first Sri Lankan to score a test century in England.

12:44A marathon knock of 190.

12:47That lasted over 11 hours.

12:49And remained one of the longest inning in test history by a visiting opener at the venue.

12:54That innings not only earned him a place in visiting cricketers of the year in 1985.

13:00But also symbolized Sri Lanka's growing presence in international cricket.

13:05He was a key figure in Sri Lanka's early test campaign.

13:08And played in the nation's first-hour test match in 1982.

13:12Although his international career was relatively short.

13:16Spanning just 23 tests and 35 ODIs.

13:19His contribution went far beyond numbers.

13:22He brought dignity, discipline, and structure to a young cricketing nation.

13:26After retirement, he remained connected to the game in various capacities.

13:31Including as a cricket administrator and ICC match referee.

13:35Siddharth Vettomone's legacy is that of a gentleman cricketer.

13:39A steady hand at the top.

13:41And a foundational figure in Sri Lanka's cricketing journey.

13:45If you like this video, please comment, share, and subscribe.

13:48Thanks for watching.

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