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Teams do not hesitate to go for 300-run chases these days.
But then, neither did India, on this day, 1949 – in what was one of the greatest days in the history of Test cricket.
That the day, and the match, and the series is forgotten is something that has always bothered me.
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But then, neither did India, on this day, 1949 – in what was one of the greatest days in the history of Test cricket.
That the day, and the match, and the series is forgotten is something that has always bothered me.
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India were 0-1 down in the series. The fifth Test, Brabourne Stadium, was the last of the series.
They decided to go for it.
India had not won a Test match until then, but they had done something remarkable in the third Test match, in Calcutta.
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They decided to go for it.
India had not won a Test match until then, but they had done something remarkable in the third Test match, in Calcutta.
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They needed 431, and they finished on 325/3.
So 361 was not outrageously high.
Unfortunately, they did not have a great start.
The third ball of the second over, by Gerry Gomez, was an inswinging yorker. It hit leg stump send KC Ibrahim back. 2/1.
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So 361 was not outrageously high.
Unfortunately, they did not have a great start.
The third ball of the second over, by Gerry Gomez, was an inswinging yorker. It hit leg stump send KC Ibrahim back. 2/1.
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Mushtaq Ali attempted a late cut and was and was caught behind. 9/2.
Lala Amarnath walked out.
Wicketkeeper Probir Sen had dislocated his shoulder on Day 1 and was ruled out of the rest of the match.
Amarnath, 37 years old, had kept wickets in virtually both innings.
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Lala Amarnath walked out.
Wicketkeeper Probir Sen had dislocated his shoulder on Day 1 and was ruled out of the rest of the match.
Amarnath, 37 years old, had kept wickets in virtually both innings.
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He needed some rest, but now he had to walk out.
He took it out on the West Indians, reducing the in-form Rusi Modi to a spectator.
India reached fifty in 65 minutes. As news got out, the crowd started pouring in. The count swelled to thirty thousand.
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He took it out on the West Indians, reducing the in-form Rusi Modi to a spectator.
India reached fifty in 65 minutes. As news got out, the crowd started pouring in. The count swelled to thirty thousand.
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Amarnath upper-cut Prior Jones, followed with a gorgeous cover-drive, both for fours.
But Denis Atkinson brought one back to hit his off-stump. 81/3.
Modi and Amarnath had added 72 in 72 minutes. Amarnath's 39 had included 6 fours. Not enough, but it had given India hope.
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But Denis Atkinson brought one back to hit his off-stump. 81/3.
Modi and Amarnath had added 72 in 72 minutes. Amarnath's 39 had included 6 fours. Not enough, but it had given India hope.
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There was not much time left before stumps on Day 4.
Most captains would have sent a night-watchman. Not Amarnath.
He sent Vijay Hazare in.
India finished Day 4 on 90/3. On the final day, they needed 271 in 300 minutes.
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Most captains would have sent a night-watchman. Not Amarnath.
He sent Vijay Hazare in.
India finished Day 4 on 90/3. On the final day, they needed 271 in 300 minutes.
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The first 30 minutes yielded 34.
Modi and Hazare had been in superb form throughout the series, especially when batting together.
Modi would finish the series with 586 runs, a new Indian record. Hazare, with 560.
They started to look ominous once again.
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Modi and Hazare had been in superb form throughout the series, especially when batting together.
Modi would finish the series with 586 runs, a new Indian record. Hazare, with 560.
They started to look ominous once again.
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Ad break.
While writing @SachinAzharCT, @senantix and I mentioned some great rearguard partnerships by Indians in Test cricket.
For Hazare and Modi, we had to mention the entire series, for they were simply there, innings after innings, match after match.
End of break.
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While writing @SachinAzharCT, @senantix and I mentioned some great rearguard partnerships by Indians in Test cricket.
For Hazare and Modi, we had to mention the entire series, for they were simply there, innings after innings, match after match.
End of break.
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John Goddard spread his field back, but the in-form Hazare still found gaps.
He hit Jimmy Cameron for two fours, first over Cameron's head, then a square cut.
India reached 150 in 172 minutes. Modi was past 50.
Goddard bowled outside off with an army of fielders outside off.
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He hit Jimmy Cameron for two fours, first over Cameron's head, then a square cut.
India reached 150 in 172 minutes. Modi was past 50.
Goddard bowled outside off with an army of fielders outside off.
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Gomez bowled accurately at the other end. Boundaries were cut off.
Ghulam Ahmed ran out with a message from Amarnath.
Hazare and Modi almost immediately resorted to tap-and-run singles.
India needed 200 in 200 minutes.
They went to lunch at 175/3, Modi on 66, Hazare on 54.
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Ghulam Ahmed ran out with a message from Amarnath.
Hazare and Modi almost immediately resorted to tap-and-run singles.
India needed 200 in 200 minutes.
They went to lunch at 175/3, Modi on 66, Hazare on 54.
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They needed 186 in two sessions.
And they continued after lunch.
Gomez convinced Goddard to switch to leg-theory, with two men behind square on the leg side along with long on, mid on, mid wicket, square leg...
But Hazare and Modi took guard outside leg and continued.
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And they continued after lunch.
Gomez convinced Goddard to switch to leg-theory, with two men behind square on the leg side along with long on, mid on, mid wicket, square leg...
But Hazare and Modi took guard outside leg and continued.
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Modi finally fell for 86.
They added 139 in 172 minutes, their fourth century partnership of the series.
Hazare was on 78 now. As he kept the scorecard going, Vinoo Mankad provided excellent support with singles.
He reached his hundred in three and a half hours.
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They added 139 in 172 minutes, their fourth century partnership of the series.
Hazare was on 78 now. As he kept the scorecard going, Vinoo Mankad provided excellent support with singles.
He reached his hundred in three and a half hours.
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He soon hit three consecutive fours off John Trim. India reached 250 in 295 minutes.
Then Jones had Mankad caught behind. 275/5. Another 86.
Amarnath promoted Dattu Phadkar over Hemu Adhikari.
At this point Jones overdid his short-pitched strategy.
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Then Jones had Mankad caught behind. 275/5. Another 86.
Amarnath promoted Dattu Phadkar over Hemu Adhikari.
At this point Jones overdid his short-pitched strategy.
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The crowd barracked him. Jones refused to bowl unless the crowd went quiet.
The crowd realised that precious time was being wasted. They settled down.
Now Hazare was hit by Goddard on, in his own words, "the lower part of my anatomy".
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The crowd realised that precious time was being wasted. They settled down.
Now Hazare was hit by Goddard on, in his own words, "the lower part of my anatomy".
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When he resumed, Phadkar called him for a sharp single. The pain returned.
He was soon bowled by Jones for 122. 285/6.
Adhikari was held back again. Amarnath promoted his other fast bowler, Shute Banerjee.
India needed 72 in the last hour.
And now Phadkar took charge.
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He was soon bowled by Jones for 122. 285/6.
Adhikari was held back again. Amarnath promoted his other fast bowler, Shute Banerjee.
India needed 72 in the last hour.
And now Phadkar took charge.
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Goddard pushed his field back, but Phadkar kept finding gaps.
Meanwhile, Banerjee hit a six, and was then bowled by Jones. Another 58.
Adhikari fell at 321. Sen was unlikely to bat, so Ghulam walked out.
This was technically the last wicket. They needed another 40.
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Meanwhile, Banerjee hit a six, and was then bowled by Jones. Another 58.
Adhikari fell at 321. Sen was unlikely to bat, so Ghulam walked out.
This was technically the last wicket. They needed another 40.
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But Ghulam was in no mood of getting out, and Phadkar kept getting runs. The target came down to 21 in 15 minutes.
Goddard utilised his allowance of one drinks break per session.
But it did not help.
Phadkar edged Goddard for four. Ghulam attempted a slog and got four byes.
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Goddard utilised his allowance of one drinks break per session.
But it did not help.
Phadkar edged Goddard for four. Ghulam attempted a slog and got four byes.
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India needed only 11 from a maximum of two overs.
Jones bowled outside leg. 11 in 11.
Jones bounced, once again on leg.
Phadkar was ready. He moved towards leg and pierced the vacant off-side with his square cut it. 7 in 10.
Jones bowled on the pads again. Single. 6 in 9.
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Jones bowled outside leg. 11 in 11.
Jones bounced, once again on leg.
Phadkar was ready. He moved towards leg and pierced the vacant off-side with his square cut it. 7 in 10.
Jones bowled on the pads again. Single. 6 in 9.
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Ghulam attempted a big hit, but did not time well. Dot. 6 in 8.
The next ball soared well over Ghulam's head. 6 in 7.
Umpire Bapu Joshi had miscalculated the number of balls. He called 'over'.
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The next ball soared well over Ghulam's head. 6 in 7.
Umpire Bapu Joshi had miscalculated the number of balls. He called 'over'.
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Worse, he took off the bails and announced that the match was over.
This, despite there being enough time left for another over.
The West Indians celebrated the series win amidst boos from the crowd.
I do not know how to react to this anticlimax. Maybe you can.
This, despite there being enough time left for another over.
The West Indians celebrated the series win amidst boos from the crowd.
I do not know how to react to this anticlimax. Maybe you can.
