00:00In the opening match of the inaugural Ruth Manzi Asia Cup, held on April 6, 1984, at
00:06the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Roy Dice rose to the occasion with a calm and composed
00:11innings that guided Sri Lanka through a memorable victory over Pakistan.
00:16Chasing a modest target, the stylish right-hander displayed tremendous patience and game awareness,
00:21crafting a vital unbeaten 57 runs of 95 deliveries laced with just one boundary.
00:28But it was not just about big hitting, it was about smart cricket.
00:32Roy Dice built his innings around well-judged singles and sharp twos, rotating the strike
00:37beautifully and keeping the scoreboard ticking, just as the situation demanded.
00:42While wickets fell at the other end, Roy Dice stood firm, anchoring the chase with a cool
00:48head and steady hands.
00:50His knock was not flashy, but it was filled with purpose and class, a perfect exhibition
00:55of old-school batting technique and temperament under pressure.
00:59As the runs kept coming in ones and twos, Roy Dice quietly nursed his side past the finishing
01:04line.
01:05With his five-wicket win, Sri Lanka not only opened their account in the Asia Cup, but also
01:10announced their arrival on the big stage.
01:12Let's relive this innings of character and control, Roy Dice match meaning 57 not out, that sealed
01:19the deal for the Sri Lankan cricket.
01:23Dice drives, doesn't get hold of it, gets an inside edge, the ball is running down to fine
01:28leg, gets a single for that.
01:33Sakras puts it on the line, Dice going for the third run, a good run there by Dice, good
01:48running between tickets.
01:49Three runs to Dice, as Sakras freaks the ball from the boundary and throws it into Mudasa
01:54at the ball's end.
01:56Outing again, after the drinks interval, it's up in the air, Meandar, getting a hand
02:04to it, a single, Dice, that brings the Leap Mendez, this the 24th over, quick run to Sakras,
02:21good running there, good choosing of the fielder.
02:24So that's 76 now, I don't know how to take both.
02:31We would like to see more out at the moment, square cut, the back foot for a short, and wild
02:42throw by Salim Malik gives one over throw.
02:50That really went over the Eber, and Kadir there saying now, what exactly are you trying
02:57to do?
02:5884 for the last two wickets now, Dice to face Kadir.
03:05I think Mild was an understatement there, because Anil Dalpur had no chance of getting
03:12it.
03:13up in the left foot, played away to point, appeal for the runner, Vicky Bird unmoved.
03:20A runner, picky bird, unmoved. That's another section of the crowd. This is the stand just to the right of us, the right of the VIP stand.
03:35That's clipped away down to Longleg and it will be cut off by Rashid.
03:50Dives facing Sarfraz, cracked away upishly on the onside. Father picks up, returns. There could be a run out of it to the right throw.
04:04But Sarfraz did not have the ball in his hand. We will see the replay of that. It was a throw to the stumps.
04:14Sarfraz thought that it would hit the stumps but it bounced over and Sarfraz whipped the bales off empty handed. Let's watch that again.
04:23We are talking about a little bit of luck and this is where the Sri Lankan batsmen just have it.
04:29Again, very, very quick between the wickets. But as we see, as that is coming up for the second run, if Father's throw would have hit the stumps,
04:38there would have been no doubt whatsoever. But in Sarfraz's hand, flick the bales off.
04:44We have to Salim Malik, not Sarfraz, because Salim Malik had moved here.
04:54Sarfraz had given way to Salim Malik.
04:56Salim Malik.
05:011.53 is the truth.
05:12You can hear all the Sri Lankans chanting in the crowd, cheering their players.
05:19That's a lovely shot. It's going to be so long.
05:23Hooked away.
05:24Classic shot.
05:28Kade Den.
05:30Bowling to Dias, who's on 49.
05:33And that's his 50.
05:35Out to square leg.
05:37The best innings of the Mets and the Sri Lanka supporters.
05:42And the entire Sharjah stadium.
05:44Rising Roy Dias for his 50.
05:49A 50 which has taken Sri Lanka
05:51to within sight of victory.
05:52Run a.
05:54Roy Dias was a stylish and technically sound top order batsman for Sri Lanka during the late 1970s and 1980s.
06:06He was known for his elegant stroke play and calm temperament.
06:10A key figure in Sri Lanka's early years of international cricket.
06:13Roy Dias played a pivotal role in stabilizing the batting order, especially during their reformative years in Test and ODI's cricket.
06:22His ability to anchor the innings under pressure made him one of Sri Lanka's most dependable bestmen of his era.
06:28Sri Lanka recorded a truly memorable one-day international victory over Pakistan in what was only the 259th ODI in cricket history.
06:40Played at Sharjah on April 6, 1984 during the first-ever Ruth Mann's Asia Cup.
06:45Although Pakistan were without the services of some of their key players, it still required a discipline and determined effort from the Sri Lankan side to seal the win.
06:56And leading that charge was the ever-reliable Roy Dias, who stitched together a knock of great patience and poise.
07:03It was not a dash to the target but rather a careful pursuit.
07:07Roy Dias moved the scoreboard forward steadily and sensibly, choosing accumulation over aggression.
07:12His calm presence at the crease was a lesson in constructing an innings under pressure.
07:18Umpire Dickey Bird and Svarud Kishan stood in the middle, overseeing a game that would go down as the landmark in Sri Lankan's cricketing journey.
07:27Not just for the result but for the manner in which it was achieved.
07:32This was a win built on compoyer, cleverness and classic cricket, a cherished chapter in Sri Lankan ODI history.
07:38If you like this video, please comment, share and subscribe.
07:42Thanks for watching.
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