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1975 - Pak v WI: A command performance from the rearguard


Teams : Pakistan v West Indies Year - Location : 1975 - England Team Won : West Indies Defining Moment : A boundary by Murray, then a two and the crucial winning run in the last over squeezed West Indies through to a fabulous win.
All the nuances of one-day cricket, its thrill-a-minute characteristic and element of unpredictability, came to the fore in the very first ICC Cricket World Cup held in England in 1975.
A series of close encounters started with the West Indies-Pakistan match at Edgbaston. The absorbing clash ended in a one-wicket victory for the Clive Lloyd-led side. The match was balanced on a razor's edge and, after tense moments for both sides, it was won through the efforts of two most unexpected heroes for the Caribbean side. Wicket-keeper Deryck Murray produced a super knock and stayed unbeaten on 61. He found a most dependable ally in fast bowler Andy Roberts, always the last man with no pretensions about his batting.
Chasing a target of 267, it seemed at one point that all was lost for the West Indians, tottering as they were at 203 for 9. The last-wicket pair, however, frustrated the Pakistani bowlers for 16 overs and finally won the match with a 64-run partnership. Victory was clinched with just two balls to spare.
An average total
Pakistan captain Wasim Bari won the toss and had no hesitation in deciding to bat first. But the star-studded Pakistan team did not bat as well as their fans would have liked. The graceful Majid Khan, Mushtaq Mohammad and Wasim Raja were the only ones to cross 50. Particularly disappointing were their prolific scorers, Zaheer Abbas and debutant Javed Miandad, who failed to consolidate on good starts.
The left-arm seam bowling of Bernard Julien was difficult to face and the Pakistanis could not score many off him. They, set, however, a challenging target: 267 in 60 overs.
Windies' top order collapse
West Indies got off to a disastrous start, losing their main batsmen to Sarfraz Nawaz, who lived up to his reputation of being a master of swing. And when young Miandad, bowling leg-breaks, dismissed Clive Lloyd, the West Indians were in trouble. A collapse ensued and saw them placed hopelessly at 166 for 8 wickets. With just two wickets standing and 20 overs to go, they needed another 101 runs for victory.
Tail-enders to the rescue
The Pakistani supporters broke into wild celebrations when Holder fell to Sarfraz. At 203 for 9, Roberts joined Murray, with the Windies still 64 runs away from the target.
Murray was as circumspect at the crease as he normally was behind the sticks. Roberts, at the other end, defended stubbornly. For those who saw the match, it was rare to see the otherwise flamboyant West Indians, indulging in self-denial at the crease. Runs came in singles and twos.
As they plodded along, frustration began to creep in the Pakistani ranks and much experimentation happened but to no avail. As evening set in, the West Indies were gradually moving from the shadow of defeat towards a sparkling victory.
In the last over, bowled by leg-spinner Wasim Raja, West Indies needed seven runs and Pakistan just that last wicket. A boundary by Murray, then a two and the crucial winning run, saw the West Indies squeeze through to a fabulous win.
Twelve years later, the Pakistanis were to similarly turn the tables on the West Indians in the ICC Cricket World Cup match at Lahore. Pakistan won the 1987 game in the last ball by one wicket.