POME CALAMITY

 

Image Credit- Sky Sports.

Venue- Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds [August 17-18 2000].

During the West Indies tour of England in 2000, the fourth Test of the five-match series became the first ever Test match to conclude in less than two days' time since 1946. The West Indies were totally annihilated during the match, allowing the hosts to win the fourth test by an innings and 39 runs. It is interesting to note that the five-match series was levelled one all before the penultimate test. The Windies won the first Test match comprehensively by an innings and 93 runs, while the English won the closely fought second Test by just two wickets. The two teams' third meeting in Manchester resulted in a draw. Hence there was a lot to play for both the teams in Yorkshire.

Jimmy Adams, the visiting captain won the toss and decided to bat first. However, the decision proved fatal as the visitors were dismissed for just 172 runs in 48.4 overs.  Ramnaresh Sarwan was the leading run getter for the Windies as he scored 59 off of 82 deliveries. On the other hand, Craig White was the leading wicket-taker for England, having picked up five wickets in the first innings.

The English responded swiftly. After batting for around 82 overs the hosts ended up scoring 272 in their first innings. With 76 runs off 132 deliveries, Michael Vaughan seemed like the guy on a mission. Apart from him, Graeme Hick too scored a crucial 57. 

However, when the Windies came out to bat in the second innings they were exact 100 runs behind the English total. Everyone expected a fight from the Men in Maroon. But what followed next was nothing short of a calamity. As Mark Nicholas has rightly described the Windies second innings- CALAMITY POME CALAMITY IN THE WEST INDIES CAMP.  The Visitors were blown out for just 61 in their second innings. It is interesting to note that it took just 27 overs for the English to wrap up the Windies Batting Line-up. The English bowling on that particular day was so lethal that 5 Windies Batsmen were dismissed for a duck. By taking five and four wickets respectively, the pace duo of Andy Caddick and Gough inflicted the most damage, absolutely bewildering the opposition. In two days, England won the Test match easily by an innings and 39 runs thanks to a collapse by the West Indies.

Postscript- The English won the fifth test at Oval and thus won the 5 Match Series 3-1. 

To watch the West Indies Second Innings, Click Here.