The 60-minute agony most memorable moment of Windies win over Australia

by A.C. de Silva

CRICKET: The Test matches between Australia and the West Indies in the good old days were very closely fought-out affairs. The crowds that flocked to the grounds really got their money's worth as far as entertainment went along. One of the most closely fought-out series was witnessed in the 1969 encounters in Australia. One particular 'Test' that had the spectators really captivated was in Adelaide in the summer of 1969 and it was a thriller between Australia and the West Indies.

At 5 p.m. on the last day, the Australians were right on top. Set to score 360 to win in 345 minutes, the Aussies had raced to 304 for 3 wickets. Starting in a whirlwind fashion, openers Stackpole and skipper Bill Lawry had virtually toyed with the West Indian bowling. Then with the in-form Ian Chappell and the plundering Doug Walters out in the middle, it seemed that the 56 runs needed to win in the last hour would come possibly in half that time.

But that was not to be. A miraculous transformation came about with the dismissal of Chappell (leg before wicket to Griffith) for 96. Four down for 304. An incredible series of run-outs saw Australia slump to 322 for seven. At 333, two more wickets fell, and Australia was down in the dumps, defeat staring in the face.

In 45 minutes the man from the Caribbean had turned the tables on the Australians, as it were. Victory was well within the grasp of the West Indies with the last pair Paul Sheahan and Alan Connolly at the crease and three full overs to go.The countdown had begun. The first over, a maiden from Gibbs, was played by Sheahan with a straight bat. At this point Garfield Sobers, the West Indies captain, made a decision that was the talking point after the match. After 83 overs with the old ball, he decided to take the new one and took it himself, removing Griffith. But Sobers could not control his swing and Connolly took six runs off the over. Now it was one more over, with Griffith to bowl to Sheahan.

High drama

That day 20,000 people sat on the edge of their seats, their eyes glued to the brownish strip in the middle where the high drama has enacted. With the West Indian fieldsmen crouched around him, Sheahan faced the last over from Griffith. Never in doubt, middling well, Sheahan played out the over confidently and wrote finis to truly memorable Test match. So history repeated itself, and for the second successive Test at Adelaide, the West Indies was baulked of victory. Eight years prior to 1964, Australia's last pair, Mackay and Kline had battled it out over 90 minutes for a draw.

But in this match, the fourth between the touring West Indies and Australia, excitement was not confined to the last day alone. Each of the first four days also had its share of delightful cricket. After a rather eventful start, the Test came alive on the first afternoon with the entry of the West Indies captain Sobers.

At four down for 107, his team was in deep trouble when he went in. But the incomparable cricketing genius that he is, Sobers immediately assumed mastery and put Australia on the defensive. He powered his way to 50 in just 44 minutes. A pull of Connolly sent the ball soaring over square-leg fence into the crowd. Fielders wrung their hands in obvious pain after attempting to stop his shots; such was the fury of his drives.

"This was Sobers at his greatest, a peak not sealed by any other modern," wrote J.H. Fingleton in the papers next morning. Sobers added 92 runs for the fifth wicket, Butcher (52). Of the 92 runs, 71 came from Sober's blade.

The master was eventually out for 110, playing over a yorker from Freeman. The runs had come in only 132 minutes and contained two 6's and 15 fours. The West Indians were all out for 276.

Replying, Australia piled up with remarkable ease, with all the six frontline batsmen among the runs. Openers Lawry and Stackpole made 62 each, Lawry's effort being as unglamorous as his partner's was aggressive.

Chappell played a delightful innings before being out for 76. When stumps were drawn on the second day, Doug Walters was unbeaten with 85, and on the third morning he duly completed his century, his second of the series and fourth in all. It was January 26th - Australia's National Day and in a manner that befitted the occasion, it amassed a huge total of 533 runs.

So, the West Indians, who had not passed 300 in their first innings in the four Tests till then, had to make up the 257 deficit and then set Australians a fair target. At this stage, with almost three full days to go, even the most fanatical of the West Indian supporters would not have wagered on the team making a fight of the match. But then, the only thing predictable about the cavalier band of cricketers from the Caribbean was their very unpredictability.

West Indies get on top

Living up to their image, the West Indians wiped out the deficit by the third evening for the loss of Fredericks (23), Carew (90) and Kanhai (80). Kanhai warmed up to his task immediately on his arrival and batted in his very best form. Carew played tightly during his association with Kanhai. But later, when Butcher joined him after Kanhai's exit, Carew cut loose and played glorious cricket.

Kanhai and Carew had prepared the ground and now it was the turn of the other batsmen to consolidate the position. This they did with consumate ease. Griffith, who had come in as 'nightwatchman' the previous evening, batted like a number four batsman on the fourth morning and scored 24 useful runs before going back. Nurse came in at number six and played by for his best innings of the tour. Butcher scored a superb century and in the process savaged the rival attack. At one period he and Nurse plundered 41 off three successive overs - 14 from McKenzie, 12 from Connolly and 15 from Freeman.

On Nurse's fall, Sobers came in and played a stroke-filled 52, a real gem of an innings. But that was not all. Lloyd had left after playing a sparkling innings and Holford and Hendricks, the last pair added 122 runs for the last wicket overhauling many a record on the way.

So, on a lovely summer day, the West Indians had prepared the game for an enthralling finish on the final day. With 360 to make in 345 minutes for victory, Australia started in great style on the final day. Stackpole charged the West Indian attack before falling for 62, with the side's total at 86. Lawry was also in good form and Chappell was immediately into his stride. Runs simply flowed along. Redpath, who joined Chappell after Lawry's fall was not on view for long. Griffith, who came into relieve Gibbs, instead of delivering his second ball, swiped at the wicket with Redpath, a good yard down the crease. Redpath was declared run out and Griffith had done a Mankad. There was pandemonium in the stands, the crowds jeered and hooted Griffith.

Pendulum swings Windies way

Excitement was intense as Walters mounted an attack on the bowling and the homeside was in sight of victory. But suddenly the pendulum swung dramatically with the exit of Chappell.

Sobers ran out Walters with an accurate throw and Holford's throw sent Freeman back. Next to go was Jarman, again beaten by a Sobers' throw.

So the game tilted the West Indies way in 15 minutes in a manner reminiscent of that unforgettable tied match in Brisbane eight years earlier.

The Australians were now in trouble and defeat had to be kept out. They were 333 for 7 wickets with four overs to go. McKenzie swung at Gibbs and Comacho substituting for Butcher, held a good catch. Gleeson came and went quickly, lbw to Griffith.

But Sheahan and Connolly, little perturbed by the extraordinary events of the past half hour, denied the West Indies victory. It was touch and go and certainly a match to remember.

Teams:

West Indies: G.S. Sobers (Captain), J.L. Hendricks, M.C. Carew, R.C. Fredericks, R.B. Kanhai, B.F. Butcher, S.M. Nurse, C. Lloyd, D.A. Holford, C. Griffith, L. Gibbs.

Australia: W.M. Lawry (Captain), B.N. Jarman, K. Stackpole, I. Chappell, I. Redpath, K.D. Walters, P. Shehan, E. Freeman, G.D. McKennzie, J. Gleeson, A. Connolly.

Scores

West Indies: 276 (M.C. Carew 36, Butcher 52, G.S. Sobers 110, Freeman 4 for 52, Gleeson 3 for 91) and 616 (M.C. Carew 90, R.B. Kanhai 80, B. Butcher 118, S.M. Nurse 40, G.S. Sobers 52, C. Lloyd 42, D.A. Holford 80, J.L. Hendricks 37 not out, A. Connolly 5 for 122, G. McKennzie 3 for 90).

Australia: 533 (W.M. Lawry 62, K. Starckpole 62, I. Chappell 76, I.R. Redpath 45, K.D. Walters 110, E. Freeman 33, G.D. McKenzie 59, L. Gibbs 4 for 145) and 339 for 9 wkts at close (K.R. Stackpole 50, W.M. Lawry 89, I. Chappell 96, K.D. Walters 50).