The Sri Lankans lions roared, loud and clear, as they beat World Cup champs Australia in the final of the AIWA Cup on Tuesday night.It was a stupendous effort by a team that may be short on experience but definitely not short on talent and commitment.Nobody gave them a chance before the start of the tournament. But the young brigade rallied magnificently around their new captain as they got the better of fancied India and Australia.The younger players in the team showed tremendous motivation and drive. Their performances are all the more creditable in the absence of stalwarts Arvinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga.I particularly liked the way they raised their game. Their bowlers, especially the medium-pacers, bowled superbly right from the word go. Their spinners too applied the brakes effectively on a wicket where the ball turned appreciably.The Lankans got the breakthroughs regularly and as a result, the Australian batsmen failed to put up a big total under pressure.The Waugh brothers weresuperb as usual. However, they were undone by the `Murali specials'. Mark, made a huge mistake of playing back and against a vicious off-break to be castled while Steve missed the line with the same end result.The situation, however, was ripe for Steve. On so many occasions in the past, he has successfully turned the tables on the opposition with fighting innings. This time, however, he must have felt disappointed with himself for getting out, especially when well set.The Australian fast bowlers had to fire on all cylinders and get the early breakthroughs but they were denied that by some spirited batting by Romesh Kaluwitharana and Marvan Atapattu, who gave their team the kind of start they hoped. They were confident, positive and right behind every delivery. The display gave a lot of confidence to other team members watching from the pavilion. Kaluwitharana, Atapattu and Russell Arnold all batted with a lot of discipline and determination.It was wonderful performance by the young team. Well played,Sri Lanka.
