Lillee acknowledges defeat to Kalli

The might of West Indies were clearly shaken by Pakistan at Birmingham before the last-wicket pair of Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts contrived to get themselves out of jail. Clive Lloyd’s men needed to put up a neat performance to get their supreme confidence back when they took on Australia at Oval in a game considered the most eagerly-awaited one since the World Cup draw was out, though the match held little significance as both sides had sealed their semifinal berths.

And the Birmingham hiccup seemed to have little impact on the Windies after Lloyd won the toss and inserted Australia in. The Australian top-order cut a sorry figure in front of the West Indian pacers and at one stage appeared to be bowled out for a score under hundred, before fighting half-centuries from Ross Edwards (58) and Rod Marsh (52*) took them to a score of 192 in 53.4 overs, giving their bowlers something to bowl at.

The West Indian response suffered a blow with the early return-to-the-pavilion of Gordon Greenidge. The 5 feet 4 inches frame of Alvin Kallicharan walked out to the middle with the dash of someone who was ready to take on the opposition bowlers head-on. One was not sure what Kalli, as he is affectionately called, had for lunch but it must have been something special as he launched an incredible assault on the Australian fast bowlers.

The Oval crowd, particularly the section of the West Indian supporters, were regaled with some audacious hitting by the left-handed Guyanese as he literally turned the 193-run chase into a no-contest. He was particularly severe on Dennis Lillee clouting him for seven fours and one six to collect 35 runs off ten balls – a stunning sequence 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 4, 6, 0, 4 summed up the manner in which he tore the bowler to shreds.

All this while, we had only heard of Lillee spelling destruction for the opposition batsmen but for a change roles were reversed - the bowler conceded 66 off his ten overs. Kallicharan’s attacking mantra was clear: he would pound the cover region if anything is pitched up; he would fiercely cut if anything is pitched short outside off-stump; he would pull if anything is pitched short on middle or leg; he would hook if an attempt is made to bounce him out.

Kallicharan’s pyrotechnics was part of an exhilarating 124-run second-wicket stand with Roy Fredericks which ensured that only the winning formalities were to be completed when his destructive 83-ball 78, punctuated with 14 fours and one six, came to an end. It must have been of little consolation for Lillee to see Kallicharan get out to him off a mistimed pull. His dismissal left West Indies with just forty runs to win which they duly accomplished, reaching 195 for 3 off 46 overs. Fittingly, Kallicharan was named Man of the Match.