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| Sunday, 12 June 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Lasting thrills by A. C. de Silva Cricket is a game that has produced many interesting episodes and recalling some makes interesting reading. The first ever 'tie' in a Test match took place in 1960 and that was around 45 years ago in December 1960, in Brisbane, Australia where the West Indies and Australia battled the 500th game of Test cricket. There were some big names involved in the two teams and that made the game all the more interesting. Batting first, the West Indies made 453 with Garfield Sobers scoring a sparkling 132, Frank Worrell made a stylish 65 and Joe Solomon also made 65. Alexander hammered 60 while Wes Hall chipped in with 50. So, it was tall scoring altogether. But amidst this, there was that fine Australian left-arm paceman Allan Davidson who claimed 5 for 135 in the first innings. Australia was equal to the task of making runs, when they batted and Norman O'Neill led the challenge making 181. The pathway to success was made possible by McDonald and Bob Simpson who gave a flying start by putting on 84 runs. Australia made 505 - a lead of 52 runs and Wes Hall was the most prominent. The West Indian bowler took four wickets. Came the second innings and useful knocks by Kanhai, Worrell and Solomon helped the Windies to reach 284 in the second innings, leaving Australia to get 233 to win. It was at this point, that the drama began. The Aussies lost six wickets for 92 runs before Davidson and Ritchie Benaud staged a splendid rally. They took the score to 226. Aussies were smiling at this stage, as they had four wickets in hand and were only seven runs away from victory. But the West Indies hit back and how they did that formed the most fascinating aspect of an epic match. Benaud was caught behind off a Hall's bouncer and then three batsmen were run out in a dramatic manner. Hunte and Solomon distinguished themselves on the field with their splendid effort. There was action all the way, nearly 26 years later in another similar result and it was at Chepauk, Madras. 'Tie' not possible 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 it had won the second encounter, too, because they had lost fewer wickets. The observers thought the same. West Indies, batting first made 222 for 5 wickets in 50 overs while the home side made a similar score losing nine wickets. The officials discovered, to their dismay, that the rules for the series cover of everything except a tie. It took the officials 2 1/2 hours on that day, to declare the match a 'tie' and having an extra match. Batting first, the West Indies made 222 with Viv Richards making 59 being the top scorer. The nail-biting finish was at hand and Lawson hit the next ball for three runs. The atmosphere was electric. Rackermann obtained a single to make the scores level. Then, it was one ball to go and one run needed. Garner's last ball saw Lawson swinging wildly and missing and the ball went through to wicketkeeper, Dujon, but Lawson scampered off for what would have been the winning run, but Dujon's underarm throw hit the stumps with Rackermann metres out of the ground. A dramatic finish. Not only that, a strange verdict too. In the additional match, however, West Indies beat Australia by six wickets and the extra prize money of 18,000 Sterling Pounds was won by the West Indies!
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