AHMEDABAD, India: India snatched victory from defeat to win the fifth one day Cricket international against Australia by 52 runs here today and take a winning 31 lead in the six match series.
Batting first, India recovered from a poor start thanks to a cool 53 from vice-Captain Ravi Shastri and then grabbed victory largely through brilliant fielding that ran out four of the Australians as they chased a modest 194 for victory.
India’s innings crumbled to 98 for six under the onslaught of Australian pace bowlers Dave Gilbert and Simon Davis, But Shastri and Madan Lal (30) saved the day with a 67 run partnership that hoisted India to a respectable 165 for seven before Lal was run out.
Set the apparently easy scoring rate of3,9 runs per over for victory on a placid wicket, only Geoff Marsh, Captain Alan Border and Greg Ritchie of the Australians looked like making runs and all three were brilliantly run out while in full low.
Richie’s dismissal appeared the turning point as Australia tumbled to 141 all out their lowest score of the series.
Lal’s innings were nearly cut short in a bizare incident that interpreted play for several minutes with the score at 150.
‘Thinking Geoff Marsh had caught him on the boundary, Lal headed for the Pavilion. Halfway off the field he was called back by the Umpires, but they waved him away again as he hesitantly walked back to the wicket.
Lal then almost reached the boundary when the Umpires finally decided the catch was invalid and again called him back just as the next batsman, Roger Binny, was about to take strike.
Several Australian fielders, including Dave Boon, were seen arguing with the Umpires amid scenes of confusion before Lal resumed his innings, scoring two more runs before he was out.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 10, 1986
