It was truly a display worthy of a champion side, a term which in recent times, has become synonymous with the Sri Lankan cricket team.
The entire team to a man, as one unit, rose to great heights and, the not to be outdone forty thousand strong spectators that thronged the stadium, rose equally high in the stands, to give vent to their ecstatic joy by applauding the fielders making those catches.
There were six spectacular catches, one each from Mahanama and Kalpage and two each from Aravinda and Murali.
They were packed into the four hours, when Sri Lanka fielded and had to do with swift anticipation, accompanied by instinctive intuition, which saw the fielders throwing themselves sideways to catch the ball in the air or diving to scoop it before it hit the turf - that left them somersaulting on the ground to regain their balance.
Every catch was as good as the other, and what was significant about these feats on the field, was that the semblance of chances, were made into match winning catches and, brought off at crucial stages of the game, to thwart threatening partnerships, that had promise of making things difficult for Sri Lanka. Whilst the spectators in true Sri Lankan character lapped it all in rapturous delight, the surprised, non plussed batsmen walked off in sheer disbelief, acknowledging perhaps that this was certainly not just another side, but a great one at that, living up to the reputation of world champions.
By their fielding prowess, the Sri Lankan cricket team, has in no uncertain terms proved right, the old adage catches win matches. This is something that was instilled into them in school by their coaches, where fielding was top priority. It would have warmed the hearts of these coaches, if they were around to see their products perform so splendidly. They, whilst admitting that they did in fact teach them to have their eyes on the ball, get under it, with hands and palms drawn close to the chest, will perhaps humbly confess that the jumping in the air, throwing themselves sideways and diving, is something they did not teach and comes about by the sheer brilliance of individual players, which we saw in abundance on Saturday.
We cannot recall with ease, as to whether in sri Lanka there was a side fielding, as cricketers possessed, just the way the present team does, with a penchant for fielding. There were however, specialists like C. H. Gunesekera Snr, Hector Perera, C. V. Abeysekera, Clive Inman, Russel & David Heyn and yet others. It was a foreigner who told his friend ''I am here to see Sheahan field'' the friend's reply was ''If I were you, I would go to Sri Lanka, to see David Heyn fielding'.
By way of a compliment, much the same thing could be said of the current Sri Lankan team. For we have, if not the best, one of the best fielding sides in the World today.
The team ably led by Arjuna Ranatunga, is moving like a well-oiled machine, with every member fitting into their respective slots and contributing towards its success. It was touching to learn that Arjuna, soon after receiving the Pepsi Asia Cup, withdrew into the dressing room with the team, to spend a few moments in prayer.
He did as well, give words of kindness and encouragement, to the dejected Bangladesh cricket team, by saying that we too initially began in a small way. To be ever conscious of your humble beginnings, is a sign of greatness, and greatness and success comes in proportion to the extent, we are able to be humble.
Our wish is that the Sri Lanka cricket team will continue to be an example to other Test playing nations.