In the very first round of group matches the tournament had started producing nerve-wrecking contests. The last time finalists were denied their first win by Allen Lamb’s savagery against England. With Pakistan winning both their matches and England winning one out of two, West Indies needed to put themselves on the points table. The king himself, Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards decided to fight a dual with Sri Lankan Lions. But Lions instead of hunting down the opposition commander, themselves were butchered and served up to the King’s feast. A cat may look at a king but cannot overcome it. And Sri Lankans those days were just not that good.
Duleep Mendis invited mayhem when he asked Richards to bat after winning the toss on a batting wicket at Karachi. The immediate signs were encouraging when Ravi Ratnayeke was on a hat-trick after removing Carlisle Best and Richardson on the score of 45. But Richards negotiated the hat-trick ball and then built a solid partnership with Desmond Haynes. Both completed their fifties, Richards reaching his in 62 balls. When Richards completed his hundred off just 97 balls, West Indies were 247 for 2. Soon after the landmark he was put down in the covers by Mendis off a stiff chance. This was his 10th hundred, an ODI record at the time. After that he opened up and started showing his natural stroke play. Moving the front foot just to the line of the ball he hit in the arc from deep point to deep mid-wicket with contempt and disdain. The bowlers were clueless where to pitch the ball and fielders were just left to fetch the ball from the boundary. He brought up his 150 with a straight six and then highest score for a World Cup innings with a stunning six over square leg off a high full toss. His last 81 runs took only 33 balls. Viv made 181 0ff 125 balls with 16 fours and 7 sixes. He was dismissed while going for another six caught by Mahanama at backward point off de Mel. In the pandemonium of Richards stroke play, Haynes hundred was almost forgotten. He made 105 off 124 balls with 10 fours and a six. Asantha de Mel became the most expensive bowler in the World Cup with figures of 10-0-97-1. West Indies made 360 for 4, a new record for ODIs beating Pakistan’s 338 against the same opposition in the previous World Cup.
In reply Roshan Mahanama started with a flurry of fours but could not last long. They lost early wickets and economical spin bowling of Harper, Hooper and Richards himself squeezed the life out of their innings. Only Ranatunga offered some resistance with 52 not out. In a bizarre reply Sri Lanka made 169 for 4 in their 50 overs. Carl Hooper took 2 wickets while Harper gave only 15 runs in his 10 overs.
Viv Richards was named man of the match for his swashbuckling knock which still stands tall in the history of the World Cup.
Duleep Mendis invited mayhem when he asked Richards to bat after winning the toss on a batting wicket at Karachi. The immediate signs were encouraging when Ravi Ratnayeke was on a hat-trick after removing Carlisle Best and Richardson on the score of 45. But Richards negotiated the hat-trick ball and then built a solid partnership with Desmond Haynes. Both completed their fifties, Richards reaching his in 62 balls. When Richards completed his hundred off just 97 balls, West Indies were 247 for 2. Soon after the landmark he was put down in the covers by Mendis off a stiff chance. This was his 10th hundred, an ODI record at the time. After that he opened up and started showing his natural stroke play. Moving the front foot just to the line of the ball he hit in the arc from deep point to deep mid-wicket with contempt and disdain. The bowlers were clueless where to pitch the ball and fielders were just left to fetch the ball from the boundary. He brought up his 150 with a straight six and then highest score for a World Cup innings with a stunning six over square leg off a high full toss. His last 81 runs took only 33 balls. Viv made 181 0ff 125 balls with 16 fours and 7 sixes. He was dismissed while going for another six caught by Mahanama at backward point off de Mel. In the pandemonium of Richards stroke play, Haynes hundred was almost forgotten. He made 105 off 124 balls with 10 fours and a six. Asantha de Mel became the most expensive bowler in the World Cup with figures of 10-0-97-1. West Indies made 360 for 4, a new record for ODIs beating Pakistan’s 338 against the same opposition in the previous World Cup.
In reply Roshan Mahanama started with a flurry of fours but could not last long. They lost early wickets and economical spin bowling of Harper, Hooper and Richards himself squeezed the life out of their innings. Only Ranatunga offered some resistance with 52 not out. In a bizarre reply Sri Lanka made 169 for 4 in their 50 overs. Carl Hooper took 2 wickets while Harper gave only 15 runs in his 10 overs.
Viv Richards was named man of the match for his swashbuckling knock which still stands tall in the history of the World Cup.
Published in sportpulse.net
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