The killer punch by Viv Richards and Haynes and Windies in easy win!

By A.C.De Silva

FLASHBACK: It was a day in Karachi, October 13 in 1987 and it was on this day that the West Indies were to play Sri Lanka in the World Cup cricket match where the West Indies gave a 191-run drubbing to Sri Lanka.

The pre-match prediction of the Sri Lankan manager was his side was capable of chasing anything in the range of 250 runs. But Viv Richards alone slammed 181 runs. Desmond Haynes made a century too.

The West Indies made a record score of 360 for 4 wickets from 50 overs. Four years previous this, Pakistan had made 338 for 5 but from 60 overs.

Richard's 125-ball effort in making 181 runs just showed that the master blaster, even at the age of 35 then, was awesome. Richards played his innings to perfection and in the end he simply cut loose.

After passing his too, Richards demonstrated what improvised stroke play is all about. He lefted Ravi Ratnayake Ashantha de Mel time and time again. He cut and drove with ease. When Richards is in such a mood it is difficult to set a field.

Richards improves on Kapil's record

Richard bettered Kapil Dev's record 175 not out against Zimbabwe, made in the 1983 World Cup. Though Richards was to say later that record meant nothing to him, he actually threw his arms up after passing Kapil's record.

If cold figures could convey Richards' easy hitting, then here they are: Richard hit 16 fours and six sixes. Hid first 50 took him 69 balls (three fours), second 50 came in 28 balls with four fours and a six, third 50 from just 15 balls with six fours and four sixes and the last 31 runs came from nine with three fours and a six.

For the fourth wicket Richards added 118 runs with Gus Logie with the latter's share being just 18. the statistics aptly convey the ideal pace in which Richards launched his aggression. When he was eight short of his personal best, Richards was out. But by then the damage has been done.

Earlier Richards and Haynes had figured in a third-wicket stand of 182. This was Haynes' ninth hundred in one-day internationals, one less than Richards. It was also an entertaining knock, 105 runs from a more 112 balls. But Haynes innings was totally shadowed by Richards onslaught.

It was Haynes who set the pace with some fluent drives, controlled flicks and pulls. In one day cricket there can be no better performing batsman then Richards and Haynes.

When they got going, it was a treat to watch.

The unfortunate Lankans were somewhat humilated. After a brief assault, Roshan Mahanama and Brendon Kuruppu took 24 runs from the first eight balls, Lankans had to settle for the inevitable.

Arjuna Ranatunga posted a half century while Duleep Mendis, after a long period, played a long innings and remained unbeaten at 37. Sri Lanka reached 169 for 4 wickets in 50 overs.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES
D Haynes b Gurusinghe			       105
C Best b Ravi Ratnayake	 			18
R Richardson c Kuruppu b Ravi Ratnayake	  	00
Vivian Richards c Mahanama b De Mel	       181
G Logie not out	 				31
R Harper not out   				05
Extras (b4, lb 8, nb 4, w4)	 		20
Total ( for 4 wickets in 50 overs)	       360

Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-45, 3-227, 4-343
Bowling (Sri Lanka): V. John 10-1-48-0
		     J.R. Ratnayake 8-0-68-2
		     S. Don Anurasiri 10-0-39-0
		     A. de Mel 10-0-97-1
		     De Silva 6-0-35-0
		     A. Ranatunga 2-0-18-0
		     A. Gurusinghe 4-0-35-1

SRI LANKA
R Mahanama c Dason b Walsh	 		12
B Kuruppu lbw b Palterson	 		14
A Gurusinha b Hooper	 			36
A de Silva c Dayon b Hooper	  		09
A Ranatunga not out	 			52
D Mendis not out	 			37
Extras (b1, lb2, w6)	  			09
Total (for 4 wkts in 50 overs)		       169

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-31, 3-57, 4-112
Bowling: (West Indies) Palterson 7-0-32-1
	    	       Walsh 7-2-23-1
		       R. Harper 10-2-15-0
		       Benjamin 4-0-11-0
		       Hooper 10-0-39-2
		       V. Richards 8-0-22-0
		       R. Richardson 4-0-18-0