Magnificent victory

OH, the glorious uncertainties of cricket!

Just when we were facing the abysmal prospect of a whitewash at home by the touring Aussies, we produce a sparkling match-winning performance that catapults us into seventh heaven. The West Indies' decisive victory over the formidable Australians at St John's, Antigua, in the fourth and final Test, is particularly sweet and precious for so many things, not the least being our dramatic come-from-behind win both in the match and at the end of a depressing one-sided Test series. The fact that we brilliantly outplayed the world champions after being crushed in the previous three matches reassures us at last that the West Indies now have the all-round talent and character to beat the best and to re-emerge at the top of world cricket.

The Windies triumph in Antigua, of course, will also be memorable for the new world record we have posted, scoring a total of 418 for seven in the fourth innings of the match, the greatest successful run chase ever. Previously, this record was held by India who achieved it at the Oval in 1976 when they amassed 406 for four in their second innings to defeat the West Indies in the third Test. However, for the Windies to break such a record in the mortifying circumstances of the series must impart added lustre to their performance. Expectations of WI suffering the first whitewash at home seemed only logical from the overwhelming dominance of the Aussies who consistently chalked up massive totals, declaring in most of their innings. In that context, having to reach a target of 418 in the last innings of the last Test seemed a formidable, almost impossible, task for a losing West Indies.

But finally, at the eleventh hour, the talent of the home team carried the day. For the first time in the series our bowlers were able to contain the Aussie batsmen, limiting them to 240 in their first outing, a total we were able to match. However, their second innings tally was another big score: 417 all out. Could the Windies match and beat such a daunting total? The odds were surely against us, but how splendidly did we go about demolishing them! Instead of wilting under pressure, the West Indies displayed a brand of confidence, character and controlled aggression that must have sent regional fans into transports of delight. The foundation for victory was laid by magnificent centuries from the Guyanese pair Sarwan and Chanderpaul with Lara contributing a valuable 60. But it was particularly satisfying to watch two Windies bowlers, off-spinner Omari Banks and paceman Vasbert Drakes, apply themselves to the finishing task of reaching the winning total, with scores of 47 not out and 27 not out respectively. Theirs were refreshing knocks against the full force of the Aussie attacks, pleasing because the Windies tail end was never notorious for winning matches with the bat!

So many aspects of this victory seem to augur well for Windies cricket. Lawson's haul of seven wickets for 78 contained the might of the Aussie batting for the first time in the series. Lara's captaincy seems to be producing the kind of inspiration and team spirit we need. Chanderpaul has apparently recovered from his physical problems and Sarwan is coming into his own as a world class batsman. We have lost the series but our hopes are high. One aspect of the tournament, however, deserves close examination by the authorities, and that is the very poor standard of umpiring displayed by the presiding officials. The vast majority of their bad decisions — Jacobs was robbed of his wicket in the last innings — went against the West Indies. How long will this unfortunate situation, which spoils the game, be allowed to continue?