Down the memory lane: Kiran More recalls the only India-West Indies ODI at the WACA

In reply, West Indies stuttered their way through before being bowled out for 126 in 41 overs. For India, Kapil Dev (2-30), Manoj Prabhakar (1-30), Javagal Srinath (2-27) and Subroto Banerjee (3-30) played a huge part.

India’s wicket-keeper in the match, Kiran More, recalls that chaotic day in Perth. “It was a tight match. There was some moisture in the pitch which seamers on both sides exploited very well. I would say both teams batted poorly,” recalled More in a trip down memory lane.

More remembers the see-saw nature of the contest vividly even today. “We fielded and bowled well today. West Indies should have won that match. In fact, I would say both sides let go of an opportunity to win the match,” said More.

West Indies had slipped to 55 for five and then to 76 for eight. Then Cummins (24) and Ambrose (17) stitched together a partnership of 37 runs for the ninth wicket which brought West Indies to the brink. “When Cummins and Ambrose had that partnership we thought that we were not in the game. We had thought that maybe the match had slipped out of our grasp,” added More. India’s vice-captain then, Shastri, produced a direct throw from mid-off to end Ambrose’s stay at the pitch.

That day, More took four catches in the West Indies reply. He still rates the catch taken to dismiss Brian Lara off seamer Banerjee as his best effort in the match. “Overall if you see Marshall bowled superbly for them. For us our seamers Srinath, Manoj, Kapil and Subroto bowled brilliantly,” opined More.

India’s skipper Mohammed Azharuddin bowled the four seamers all in one go and at the end of the 40th over had to turn to his part-timers. First to get a go was a teenaged Sachin Tendulkar with his seam-up bowling and he struck with the last ball of the 41st over.

“Sachin got the last wicket. He was seaming the ball well,” said More. Cummins and last man Patrick Patterson had taken five runs off the first five balls of the over. Then Cummins edged one to Azharuddin at second slip which sealed a historic tie. “It was a brilliant catch by Azhar. It was keeping low, Azhar had to dive. It was a tremendous effort…simply outstanding. Sachin always had a golden arm and always wanted to be in the game even at the age of 18 then,” added More.

When India managed to tie the match, the entire team celebrated as if they had won the match. “We celebrated, we were laughing and everybody was surprised. When we batted first we thought that was it and then when Cummins-Ambrose threatened with their partnership, we had lost hope. Tied matches were rare in those days. We were happy that we tied that match,” concluded More.

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