Rangana Herath’s remarkable spell of five wickets for three runs remains one of the most celebrated moments in World T20 history. If your memory of this brilliance has faded, or if you want to revisit one of the greatest comebacks in any format, here’s a recollection of Rangana Herath’s herculean feat, especially as the World T20 fever grips the cricket world.
Sri Lanka’s World title dreams were rapidly disintegrating in Chittagong. In a do-or-die battle against the Kiwis, the Lankans had managed a paltry 119—a score not even close to competitive. The Kiwis were off to a solid start, adding 18 runs for the loss of just one wicket. Only a miracle could keep Sri Lanka alive in the tournament.
Miracles aren’t rare in Sri Lankan cricket. However, their likelihood becomes even more remote on the world stage, where survival hangs in the balance. Miracles are typically the work of superstars like Angelo Mathews, Sanath Jayasuriya, Lasith Malinga, and others. Described as super strong and supremely skilled, these are the adjectives that define those who perform miracles. Yet, on that day, it was none of them. A burly spinner, only slightly taller than the score his team posted that day, was Sri Lanka’s last hope. Rangana Herath was never the superstar known for supreme feats. But that day was different. A comeback win is always special, but those orchestrated by bowlers are even more so. Melbourne, Durban, Galle—the list of memorable wins in our history is long. Yet, for some reason, nothing could evoke the same excitement and thrill as what would unfold in Chittagong that day. In a knockout game on the world stage, with their backs against the wall and no realistic chance, Herath was set to wield the magic wand that nobody knew he possessed in the shortest format of the game.
The Kiwi dynamite McCullum did what he does best: trying to intimidate the bowlers. In an attempt to do so, McCullum misread the length and turn, ending up stumped in Herath’s first over. A T20 maestro was made to look like an amateur trying his first dance skit by a spinner who was far from the T20 prototype. With Ross Taylor in the middle, the Kiwis were in safe hands. But Herath was in no mood to relent. A beautifully delivered arm ball, skidding off the glistening surface, trapped Taylor Plumb in front. The glimmer of hope was slowly but surely turning into rays of hope. Not only was he taking wickets, but Herath was also miserly with the runs. Neesham was the next victim of a perfect delivery from the off-spinner. Lured into the drive and beaten by the lack of pace, he was bowled through the famous gate. Herath was imparting his Midas touch on the proceedings. Suddenly, the Kiwis were left in a daze, not knowing what was transpiring in the middle. It was as if an alien power had engulfed an unsuspecting civilization. At 29-4, the game was not gone for the Kiwis, but it soon was to be. Luke Ronchi, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman, was squared up by a delivery that was angled in, pitched online, and straightened. As the umpire’s finger went up, Sri Lankan hopes skyrocketed. Herath had caused havoc, sending the Kiwis into an avalanche, reducing them to 29-5. Despite Williamson anchoring the innings and providing a fight, Herath’s efforts were strong enough to outweigh the Kiwis. The wicket of Boult to polish off the Kiwi effort was a fitting end to a fabulous performance. As the ball landed in the safe palms of the ever-reliable Mahela at slip, Herath had orchestrated an unimaginable win, evoking feelings similar to the famous Kolkata triumph in 1996, though smaller in magnitude.
For a team to win a world tournament, moments must instill self-belief, signaling that something special is just around the corner. The Kotla chase in 1996 was one such moment that rejuvenated that year’s campaign. Similarly, Herath’s effort against all odds made one believe Sri Lanka was on the cusp of a world title. In 2014, almost all the Lankans had gone unsold in the IPL auction due to a mix of skill-related and administrative factors. This indicated that the team was competitive but not considered a top contender. In that context, it was fitting that a team, seen at best as outsiders to clinch the title, went on to reach the pinnacle powered by an individual who would not have been imagined as capable of delivering such a stellar effort in the shortest format of the game. While there are many celebrated bowling feats in the annals of our cricket, Herath’s superlative 5-3 not only matches other renowned feats, but its impact transcends into a different stratosphere.
