Kumar Dharmasena 54 vs England in 2001 at Kandy

Mr. Devotor

Transcript

00:00In the Heart of Candy During the second Test match against England

00:03in March 2001, Kumar Dharmasina crafted an innings that still resonate with fans of determined

00:10old-school Test cricket.

00:11Facing pressure and a crumbling batting line-up, Dharmasina stood tall with a courageous 54

00:17runs of 181 deliveries, spanning a marathon 226 minutes at the Currys.

00:22His patience-knock laced with eight crisp boundaries was just not about runs, it was

00:27a lesson in resilience. As wickets kept tumbling around him, Dharmasina found crucial allies

00:33in Kumar Dharmasina and Chaminda Vaz. Together, they tried to anchor Sri Lankan's second

00:38innings and stretch the lead in the hopes of a miracle. Every ball Dharmasina faced was a

00:42battle against time, pressure and a relentless English bowling attack. Although England eventually

00:48clinched the match by three wickets, the spirit shown by Dharmasina could not be the overshadowed.

00:53Reasoning was a reminder of the importance of grit and kumpoyal. In the face of adversity,

00:59it was not flashy, but it was full of character, exactly what Test cricket is all about.

01:04Let's rewind the clock and relive this classic knock. An unsung hero from a cricket known more

01:10for his all-round contribution and later for his empowering career. Watch Kumar Dharmasina

01:15fighting 54 runs and celebrate a moment of true cricketing spirit and determination.

01:22the end of the third day's play to 98 for six. But it won't be just the wickets and runs

01:36that have been scored today that people will remember about the third day's play of this

01:40second test match here at Kandy. There was massive drama too. Sri Lanka eight runs ahead then.

01:47Sri Lanka in their second innings are 98 for six. That's a lead of just eight runs. But they have got

02:07number three, Kumar Sangakara, still out there. 47 not out. But he's got to bat with the tail-enders.

02:13And terrific work again by the England pacemen. Gough, Paddock and White. And an important contribution

02:22right at the end of the day from Robert Croft, the England off-spinner. Just eight runs ahead then, Sri Lanka.

02:28Short from Giles, Dharmasina easily gets that away through the offside before. It's a very bad delivery.

02:43That was a good shot by Dharmasina. It's been waiting for that one. Oja has to drop it short and taking full advantage of it.

02:50Perfectly played into the gap. It's all along the ground.

03:02Ten test matches away from home before they play seven at home in the summer.

03:07A total of 17 in 12 months.

03:12Giles dropping short again. And he's bowling utter rubbish this morning.

03:20Giles once again dropping it short and Dharmasina making no mistake drawing back himself enough room

03:27and having no difficulty at all getting the ball into that gap. Four more runs to him.

03:35He officiated the tournament opener between India and Bangladesh in May 4 and impressed with his calm demeanour and sound this year.

03:45What do you have here at? One place. He doesn't want to get hit. No spinner likes to get hit square the wicket.

03:49That means you've dropped it short and you're giving it too much work.

03:52But both spinners in the first over. Ashley Giles did exactly the same. Drop short.

03:57Croft here does the same. The ball sticks up nicely. Sangakkara punches through the offside. Picks his spot.

04:04He turned and came back to his crease every minute of it.

04:14Picked up off his toes through mid-wicket. Now he'll go all the way for four.

04:21Great shot from Dharmasina.

04:301.47 for 6.

04:33This is a beauty. Going for the Yorker, Andrew Kadic. That's fair enough.

04:41Just picked away by Dharmasina. He's starting to play a few shots now.

04:49Catch it!

04:50Catch it!

04:51I think that's gone. Don't think there's any... Oh well, BC Kouros is not out.

04:58And I heard two definite noises. There's a shake of the head from the England close fielders. I think there's a bit of bat in here somewhere.

05:08So do I. Poor old BC.

05:14There were two distinct noises here. Pad first. And then off the face of the bat to Graham Thorpe at Silly Point.

05:22Sudden realisation that...

05:32Ashley Giles though during that over.

05:34Pad, face of the bat, straight to Graham Thorpe. Not out.

05:40Well, we've seen plenty of those over the last three days. Pad, bat, caught on the offside. And very few of them given.

05:50You can hear two noises. That's the big giveaway.

06:04Up in the air and away for four through mid-wicket. This is poor fare for Ashley Giles.

06:15Dharmasina on the sweep.

06:17Very good technical shot. The way that he extends his hands way in front of his front pad. Picks his spot over the leg side.

06:30Everything goes in.

06:38Shoveled away by Dharmasina. This will reach the boundary as well.

06:41Comparison between Sri Lankan and Pakistan batsmen. I would feel that Sri Lanka are more adventurous.

06:52They're more able to take the game to the spinners.

06:55Here's another full toss from Ashley Giles.

06:57Dharmasina comes down a stride to make it into a full toss.

07:01It's a ball of full length. But he'll take one extra stride there. Catch the ball on the full.

07:07Another Giles full toss.

07:10Another Giles full toss.

07:14Well he's not got it today Ashley Giles.

07:23Robert Croft who's emerging as the better option of the two spinners.

07:28It's rhythm. We've talked about confidence.

07:31But it's full tosses and short deliveries.

07:40Yet another full toss.

07:46Croft has to do the fielding this time.

07:49Conversation there between Sri Lankan and the two manager.

07:53And the match referee.

07:56And...

07:58I don't know. They're getting to know each other pretty well at the moment.

08:05Good shot.

08:06Overpitch looking for the reverse swing.

08:08Half-bolly.

08:09Driven confidently. Will it get to the boundary?

08:11No, not quite.

08:12She's then desperately needing another wicket.

08:19And I've seen that the man.

08:20He's holding him up.

08:2142 not out.

08:23In the commentary box now.

08:25David Lloyd with Paul Alla.

08:29Well that's Edgley Wade.

08:31And it's between Slip and the keeper.

08:34And it's going to run away for four.

08:36So Darmusina picks up another boundary.

08:38Takes him to 46.

08:42And the lead to 108.

08:54Darmusina gets to...

08:56This half-century.

08:58It's been a very fine innings by...

09:01Darmusina.

09:03Started for over three hours for this sort of 50.

09:05And it's his third in Test match cricket.

09:08Couldn't have come at a better time for his side.

09:11But it's timely innings.

09:13Undemonstrative too.

09:14He's just lifting his bat around the ground.

09:16And then gets back to the business.

09:18Gets congratulations from Chiminder Vass.

09:20New ball will be due.

09:21And expected to be taken.

09:22Swung away.

09:23Square on the leg side.

09:24That's going to go all the way for four.

09:25Bisected mid-wicket.

09:26And deep backwards square.

09:27This is well done.

09:28It's good.

09:29It's good.

09:30It's good.

09:31It's good.

09:32It's good.

09:33It's good.

09:34The end of Darmusina.

09:35Darmusina's got the break through.

09:36Ryan Hicks takes the catch.

09:37And that's the wicket that England wanted.

09:38Aaron Goff has tried his heart out for England.

09:39And they've finally got the wicket.

09:44Sri Lanka 2.34 for 8.

09:46It's a superb delivery from Darren Goff.

09:48The end of Darmacena, Darren Goff has got the break through.

09:51Ryan Witt takes the catch, and that's the wicket that England wanted.

09:56Darren Goff has tried his heart out for England,

09:58and finally got the wicket, Sri Lanka, 2.34 for eight.

10:03Oh, superb delivery from Darren Goff.

10:06He's been doing this so very often, the ball raring at Darmacena,

10:10because not very much he could have done on the shoulder of the back,

10:13and a good catch.

10:14So, big wicket for England.

10:17The wicket of Darmacena, who's battered with a great deal of grit.

10:21There you are, Darmacena once again.

10:24See that brilliant catch as well.

10:29Darmacena is going for 54, the 8th and the wicket is down for 2.34.

10:35Kumar Darmacena, Cricketing Journey is a remarkable tale of resilience,

10:39reinvention and rising through challenges.

10:42Bursting onto the international stage in 1984

10:45at the youthful age of 22.

10:48Kumar Darmacena made his debut against South Africa.

10:51His slightly unconventional bowling action

10:53and brisk off-spin deliveries immediately marked him a dependable one-day baller,

10:58especially effective in the spin-friendly pitches of Sri Lanka.

11:02What set him apart was not just his accuracy, but his adaptability.

11:06Over the years, he evolved into a handy middle-order bestman, lending balance to the Sri Lankan one-day

11:12side line-up.

11:13This dual skill set made him a consistent figure in the national squad, especially in limited

11:18over cricket, where he thrived on home soil.

11:21But, like many cricketers, Darmacena's path was not without its obstacles.

11:26In 1998, after a test match at the Oval, doubts were raised over the legality of his bowling action.

11:33The ICC flagged his technique, casting a shadow over his career.

11:37For many, that could have been the end, but Darmacena was not one to the back down.

11:43After a rigorous assessment and with support from Sri Lankan Cricket Board, he was cleared

11:48to play again in July 2000.

11:50He returned to the ODI side with determination, although his appearance in test cricket became limited.

11:56In November 2006, Darmacena hang up his boot, not to walk away from the game, but to view

12:02it from a different perspective.

12:03Trading his bowling arm for a white coat, he stepped into the world of umpiring.

12:08And just three years later, in 2009, he made his international debut as an umpire, proving

12:14that his understanding of the game extended far beyond the boundary ropes.

12:19By 2011, he was on the global stage again, this time at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

12:25He officiated the tournament opener between India and Bangladesh in Mearpur and impressed

12:30with his calm demeanor and sound decision making.

12:33That same year, he earned his spot on the prestigious ICC elite panel of umpires, becoming one of

12:39the few to excel both as a player and a match officials.

12:43From a promising young all-rounder to a respected international umpire, Komar Darmacena's story

12:49is a testament to adaptation, preservance and passion for the game in every form.

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