Many cricket pundits have argued about who played the greatest ODI innings in limited overs history, spanning more than forty years.
Free Hit Contributor – Dilan Gunasekara
Why are they arguing? They need to stop that argument because the cricketing world witnessed what is still considered by many even to this day to be the greatest ODI innings, played in 1984 by West Indies batting maestro Vivian Issa Alexander Richards. Viv simply blew away the English bowlers and made an absolutely magnificent 189 at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester.
It was the first of the three match ODI series in the Texaco trophy between the English side and the then mighty West Indies. Deciding to bat first, the Windies innings was in utter tatters as the English bowlers led by Ian Botham ran through their batting line up. The Windies found themselves at 102-7 in the 26th over. The gum-chewing Antiguan was 65 not out when No.8 batsman Eldine Baptise walked out to the crease. These two added 59 for the eighth wicket as Baptise became the second Windies batsman to enter double figures. The dismissals of Baptise and Joel Garner further dented the chances of the Windies batting through their allocated 55 overs. The scoreboard read 166 for 9 as No: 11 Michael Holding trudged into bat. Out of 166, Viv had contributed 9. What champions usually do is deliver when it matters the most, that is what Viv did that day.
He brought up his seventh ODI ton with an imperious drive off the bowling of his county-mate Ian Botham. The stage was set and Viv did not disappoint. Like a magician, Viv made the ball disappear with his wide array of shots. He shielded his partner Michael Holding and launched a brutal assault on the English bowlers. Viv’s willow was like a magnet to the ball and his pull and hook shots flew like rockets to the rope. His powerful bottom handed whips sent the ball screaming to the rope. Viv found the gaps with the precision of a surgeon.
Viv and Holding added an astonishing 106 runs for the tenth wicket. Unsurprisingly, Holding contributed just 12 to that partnership. Viv made a sublime 189 runs from 170 balls which included 21 fours and 5 towering sixes. England were bowled out for 168 runs.
Simple equation- Viv beats England by 21 runs!
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