March 17, 1996: Aravind de Silva masterclass guides Sri Lanka to maiden World Cup title 

On this day, 15 years ago, Sri Lanka won their maiden World Cup title after an epic chase orchestrated by Aravinda de Silva, who scored an unbeaten hundred, in Lahore.

The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore was witness to one of the biggest days for Sri Lankan cricket as captain Arjuna Ranatunga led his time to their maiden World Cup title. 15 years ago, on March 17, Sri Lanka won the 1996 Wills World Cup by defeating Australia with a margin of seven wickets and 22 balls remaining in Lahore. Sri Lanka’s semifinal encounter against India was one of the darkest days in cricket as the stands of the Eden Gardens in Kolkata witnessed real fire being set up by an angry crowd. Sri Lanka were asked to bat first in the semifinal and fifties by Aravinda de Silva and Roshan Mahanama had set up a total of 251/8. India collapsed in their semifinal chase against Sri Lanka and after the 8th Indian wicket fell, with India’s total at 120, the crowd set parts of the stadium on fire and bottles and edibles were thrown at the field. Play resumed after a while but the violent crowd kept throwing bottles and fruits at the fielders in the deep and the match referee finally called off the game between and Sri Lanka, who had almost set up a good win, won the game by ‘default’.