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The first-ever 'tie' in one-day cricket...:
West Indies and Australia
By A.C. De Silva
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In full flight ....Vivian Richards in attacking mood. He
made 59 and helped to propel the West Indies score.
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CRICKET: The game of cricket has provided many thrilling moments over
the years and that's why it has a big following. Ever heard of a 'tie'
in a Test match? Well a 'tie' took place in 1960. Then after nearly 26
years later another similar result came at Chepauk, Madras.
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An useful partner .... Richie Richardson gave useful support
to Richards with a good knock of 43 for the West Indies.
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Kim Hughes - the Australian skipper made a quick-fire 53 and
with Wessels put on 109 runs for the Australians to make 222
for 9 wickets to ‘tie’ the match with West Indies. |
In one-day internationals, by logical conclusions, a 'tie' is not
possible. But the West Indies and Australia finished with scores level
in the second match of the final of the Benson and Hedges World Series
Cricket competition in Australia in the 1983-84 series.
West Indies who had won the first match, thought that they had won
the second encounter too because it had lost fewer wickets.
The observers thought the same. West Indies, batting first, made 222
for 5 wickets in 50 overs while the home team made a similar score
losing nine wickets.
The officials discovered to their dismay that the rules for the
series covered everything except a 'tie'. It took the officials 2 1/2
hours to arrive at the decision of declaring this match as a 'tie' and
having an extra match.
Fine fare
For nearly 45,000 spectators who thronged the Melbourne cricket
ground that day, it was a thrilling experience.
Batting first West Indies, helped by a third-wicket partnership
between Richie Richardson and Viv Richards found the going steady.
Richardson made 43 while Richards slammed 59. Then an unbroken
sixth-wicket stand of 49 between Larry Games (25 not out) and Jeff Dujon
(33 not out) carried West Indies to 222 for 5 wickets in 50 overs.
For the Australians Lawson bowled well conceding only 26 runs from 10
overs. Hogan's was just as economical, concluding only 31 runs from 10
overs.
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Larry Gomes with 25 not out was involved in a useful
unbeaten sixth wicket partnership with Jeff Dujon which
realised 49 runs. |
Jeff Dujon - the West Indies wicket-keeper very agile and
was involved in the run-out of Rackerman of Australia which
brought about a dramatic finish.
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A punishing batting display by Kepler Wessels got him 77 and
with Kim Hughes added 109 runs for the second wicket for
Australia to make 222 for 9 wickets in 50 overs.
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Then it was Australia's turn to bat. Left-hander Kepler Wessels made
a punishing 77 while skipper Kim Hughes hit a quick-fire 53, the pair
adding 109 for the second wicket. The West Indies bowlers Mike Holding
and Joel Garner bowling a superb length conceded just four runs an over,
and in the process picked up three wickets apiece. Malcolm Marshall too
bowled well.
Geoff Lawson (21 not out) batted briskly in the closing stages was
Australia's best hope in the climatic stages.
Australia were 212 for 7 wickets and Garner began the 50th over for
the West Indians. Rodney Hogg took a single off the first ball. Lawson
cricked a spectacular boundary with a flowing drive through the covers.
Off the third ball, Lawson attempted a second run which resulted in the
run out of Hogg, a fine return from the mid-on boundary by Marshall
ended Lawson's tenure at the wickets.
Nail-bitting finish
Lawson hit the next ball to collect three runs. The atmosphere was
electrifying. Reckermann obtained a single, patting the ball gently to
mid-off to bring the scores level. One ball to go and one run required.
Garner's last ball. Lawson swung wildly at the well pitched delivery
but failed to connect and the ball whistled through to the 'keeper'
Dujon standing well back. Lawson scampered off for what would have been
the winning run, but Dujon's under arm throw hit the stumps with
Reckermann metres out of the ground. A dramatic finish. Not only that, a
strange verdict too.
In the additional match, however, West Indies beat Australia for the
first prize. Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd did not play due to injuries,
yet West Indies were home for the loss of six wickets and with 4.3 overs
to spare. A splendid fifth wicket stand between Gus Logie (88) and Jeff
Dujon (82 not out) carried West Indies to a 6-wkt success over
Australia.
The Sterling pounds 18,000 extra prize money was West Indies.!
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