Cricket - a game loved by many the world over

Cricket loved by many... Cricket has been the game loved by many thousands over the years and one such game was the Test match between West Indies and India played at Kingston, Jamaica between February 23 to 29 where the West Indies plucked victory by 4 wickets in what was the first Test.

Andy Roberts turned on his magic and made the match a lasting monument – taking 4 for 61 in India’s first innings total of 251 and 5 for 39 in India’s second innings total of 174. India were dismissed for 251 in the first innings and 174 in the second innings.	West Indian Dujon hit the winnings six in their second innings total of 173 for 6 wickets. He was 16 not out then and West Indies when they made 254 in the first innings, Dujon made 29.
Ravi Shastri of India – was 25 not out when the Indians out for 174 in their second innings. He took 4 for 43 in the West Indies first innings total of 254.	Michael Holding took 2 for 57 in India’s first innings total of 251 and in the second innings, he took 2 for 36 when the Windies were pushing to get the Indian wickets. India were finally out for 174 in their second innings.
Malcolm Marshall took 2 for 35 in India’s first innings score of 251 and 3 for 56 in India’s second innings score of 174. In the first innings he had Indian star Sunil Gavaskar caught by Dujon for 20.	“Smoking Joe” - Richards chocked the Indians with a batting display the Indians will always remember. He made 29 in total of 254 and 61 in total of 173 for 6 wickets when they were chasing after victory. The Windies eventually won the match by 4 wickets.

After three days of absorbing cricket, followed by the loss of the fourth day due to rain, and then the first hour on the final day, the Test appeared dying on its feat before Andy Roberts and then Vivian Richards turned on their magic to make the match a lasting monument to the vagaries of the game and the power of West Indies cricket.

It was an unforgettable experience, the kind of action, drama and excitement which will force those present to boastfully utter years to come when the match will be discussed.

India 167 for 6 at tea, 164 runs on, appeared out of trouble when suddenly Roberts blasted out the remaining batsmen with three wickets in his first over after the tea interval, then one more for one run off 3.3 overs.

Even then, India appeared safe with the home team's target a challenging 172 in 30 minutes plus the 20 compulsory 20 overs in the last hour. But then came Richards with a devastating display of 61 runs off 36 balls with four sixes and five fours to hand the West Indies victory with three balls to spare in one of the most exciting Test match played at Sabina Park.

Exhilarating displays

It was one of those days when the crowd had stayed away thinking the match was dead, but as the news of Roberts' breakthrough flashed around city, they, ever the dreamers, piled into the ground to witness one of the most exhilarating batting displays yet seen in a Test match.

"Smoking Joe" Richards, the man who has failed to puff at Sabina on his many visits, choked the Indians with a batting display they will always remember. When Richards walked to the wicket nursing an injured left shoulder and four stitches on his forehead while recuperating from a broken right thumb, the task looked barely possible to with 107 runs needed in 15 overs. When he left to a tumultuous ovation at 156 for 5, the Jamaican appetite was satisfied they had seen the master at his ferocious best, and the West Indies going full blast.

India, probably realising what was in store, started defensively with captain Kapil Dev taking 10 minutes to bowl the opening over which produced two runs. With Desmond Haynes on the hunt however, the West Indies raced to 46 without loss off 6 overs in the 30 minutes before the countdown started.

Flying start

Gordon Greenidge was slow, but Hayres was in superb form as he hit Sandhu to the backward square by boundary, drove Kapil through Extracover and midwicket and dropped medium pacer Sandhu beyond the boundary at long-off.

With Clive Lloyd going quickly to a good catch on the long-on fence, Richards made a majestic entry to write another chapter in an already glorious career. He took two balls from Venkat to light his pipe, and then signalled that all was well when he hit the third ball from the off-spinner into the Members Club behind midwicket.

Greenidge, slow from the start, was reduced to nothing but a privileged frontrow spectator as Richards produced a feast of high class batsmanship.

The Indians knew not where to bowl at him, and with the cheers ringing in his ears, he cut Kapil for four, hit Venkat over wide long-on for six, and smashed a short from Kapil off the backfoot, from outside the leg stump to the extra-cover boundary.

Greenidge almost in neutral gear, Richards stroked Venkat over long-on for another six and forced Kapil to shunt him out of the attack.

In come Mohinder Amarnath, and although he picked up the wicket of Roberts with his first ball, he was cut to ribbons as Jeffrey Dujon drove over long-off for six and Richards cleared the Club House, then flicked to the long-on boundary for four. Richards was caught off the next ball, and then newcomer Augustine Logic lifted the last delivers of the over for a six to long-on.

Rousing finish

With five balls to go and five runs needed, Dujon ended the contest on a crescendo when he hit a full toss from Amarnath into the second floor of the Club House.

Before the final assault, it was an absorbing contest with the West Indies banking on pace and India on spin with the balance even after the first innings.