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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending April 14, 2017
WatchiingttireeWestln dies "greats" at Bourda
Crick et
was
at its
tantalizing best.,.
.1
by SHAN RAZACK sportswnter, Rohan Kanhai, Garry Sobers and Lance Gibbs took West Indies represented the essence of West to the verge of victory in the fifth and final Test, West Indies v Indies cricket, a batsman apparMMtim England at Bourda in 1968. It produced a performance by ently improvising as he went Sobers that rates as possibly the greatest single-handed effort in all along but in fact applying relentcricket history. As if to atone for his (in) famous declaration error in less discipline and technique to ■i'.; v.'V; the fourth Test at Port-of-Spain allowing England to make 215 runs take the game into hitherto unexVW in 165 minutes, which he must have acknowledged in his heart but plored areas. Kanhai and Sobers, Vs f... okay have it your way. Sobers and .ij, ' would not confess publicly, Sobers proceeded to do the near impossiKanhai made all except 112 of the ble. total, 414 and scored 250 together. V.'V.'.V Sobers answered his critics in the stance leaning forward with bent knees. Rohan made a belligerent 150 and best possible manner in the fourth Test at "It seemed contradictory almost irreGarry, equally devastating with Bourda. He poked his way to 152 adding sponsible not to observe the familiar, non152. It was a great day for cricket ■ ,^v-1 • V AAA* 250 for the fourth wicket with Rohan Kan- chalant loping jauntiness stoop forward, w fans at Bourda and one, which mSm wm hai in the first innings and was left high collar sticking up starched stiff under his would be remembered for a very and dry on 95 not out in the second and chin. These were the unique trademarks of m long time. What was obvious was was the first West Indies batsman to score genius. Sobers was joining Rohan Kanhai, when Kanhai reached 99, Sobers 6000 runs. He took six wickets in the the artist, already in full cry. It was firemoved down the pitch to give *»—"frVrV match but even this extra-ordinary per- works as the BHOLALALL, not Babulall, Kanhai, a word of advice. The formance failed to salvage the rubber. Ear- mind you, raced to 113 on the first day commentator Henry Blofeld said: lier, Sobers was to incur the wrath of the with his skipper on 50. It was not only "One genius (Sobers) walk down West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Kanhai's first Test century at Bourda, but to meet another (Kanhai) to 'coax' him to bowled his heart out, taking three wickets the Guyana Government, when he played for 72 runs in 37 overs of which 15 were cricket in white dominated Rhodesia. He maidens. Sobers was again the bulwark in later conveyed his "sincere regrets" for this the West Indies second innings, in which, action to the West Indies Cricket Board the others failed to capitalize on a dashing (WICB), a diplomatic statement, which start by Seymour Nurse who made 49. prevented a potential crisis in West Indies From 86 for three. Sobers steered his side cricket, after Guyana had said that he to 264, batting chancelessly from around would not be welcomed to lead the Test two o'clock until 5:30 when he ran out of side. West Indies were frustrated by the partners only five short of another century. same three English star batsmen of the WISDEN reports laconically: 'It was a — fourth Test, Cowdrey, Barrington and great innings.' Snow, once again proved a ' ■ Knott with this time unexpected assistance & perpetual thom in the flesh taking six for from Lock and Pocock. John Snow, too, 60 to finish with match-figures of ten for helped materially to pull England through 142. with a personal triumph by taking ten for England had to bat through the last 142 (match-analysis). day to get 385 for victory. In ninety-five It was a hot Match day when the ■ minutes, they plunged to 41 for five, shatspectators at the Georgetown Cricket Club tered by Gibbs and without any excuse to (GCC), Bourda had the chance in a lifebe found in the conditions for the spinners time to see two of the greatest post-war turned the ball only slowly and prodi\ batsmen in action. Batting first. West Ingiously. All seemed lost when Allan Knott GARFIELD SOBERS dies were 72 for three; Steve Camacho, joined Cowdrey, but he was there to stay Seymour Nurse and Basil Butcher were earned him the distinction of being the first get his first Test century at Bourda. Inter- until the end, nearly four hours later. Cowback in the pavilion. Next to come, accord- Guyanese to do the honor. Kanhai, who is estingly, Sobers and Kanhai made cen- drey and Knott scored 129 together, and ing to the eastern scoreboard was Clive referred to as the Corentyne Thunder, turies in the same innings of a Test match the Cowdrey's shrewd commanding inLloyd, but the West Indies skipper Garry square cut and drove with immaculate timon three other occasions; Calcutta 1958- nings of 82 ended, seventy minutes reSobers promoted himself. He walked to ing. It was amazing that a man so small a 59-Sobers 106, Kanhai 256; Sabina Park mained. Somehow, Knott loomed when the wicket gracefully and relaxed with his built could put so much power into his 1962-Sobers 153, Kanhai 138; Lord's Pocock was out to a fine catch, but Jones characteristic long stride, he took his strokes. By then he had established a rep1973- Sobers 150, Kanhai 157. managed to scramble through the final utation for charismatic strokeSobers then took the new ball and over from Gibbs. Gibbs bowled beautiplay and dazzling aggression. bowled 37 overs at pace, 15 of them were Kanhai is probably the least fully, for starting with four 12 in fourteen maidens to take three for 72. With all the appreciated batsman in West Inovers before lunch, but the honors lay easbowlers sticking to their tasks, England dies' history. He scored centuries were all out for 371 to give West Indies a ily with Knott on 73 not out. England were in both innings in Australia, first innings lead of 43. Until late in the on the ropes, indeed, almost on the apron matched Sobers stroke for stroke proceedings, England's innings was also a of the ring, at 206 for nine, 101 runs beon the triumphant tour to England two-man show. Boycott reached 100 in hind with the last pair Knott and Jones r and dazzled spectators with the four hours and a half and Cowdrey (59) hanging on for dear life, when time peextra grace of his stroke-play, inhelped him to add 172. England's middle- tered out. Jones stood between Gibbs, the cluding a sweep shot while lying order batting then broke down again, and world's finest off-spinner and a West Inon his back. His magic stems at 259 for eight, they were in grave danger. dies' victory in the final six deliveries of from a wonderful eye, lightening Tony Lock — known for his bowling — the match. Gibbs was the pick of the reflexes, footwork and perfect however, proceeded to bat with typical bowlers taking six for 60, in 40 overs of timing. He has the abihty to take belligerence and Pocock with such obsti- which 20 were maidens. Sobers was an attack apart with a savage, yet nacy that he spent nearly 90 minutes be- equally dominating, 31 overs of pace essentially cultured assault. For fore scoring his first run. Lock made 89 as bowling, 16 maidens, 53 runs and three C.L.R. James, the doyen of England reached 321 all out. Sobers wickets. LANCE GIBBS