On This Day In 1983: Vivian Richards’ Sublime Half-Century Guided West Indies’ Win Against India
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On February 28, 1983, Sir Vivian Richards scored 61 off 36 balls, leading West Indies to a four-wicket win against India in the first Test at Sabina Park.
Vivian Richards smashed five boundaries and four sixes to score 61 off 36 balls before being dismissed by Mohinder Amarnath. (Image: ICC/X, formerly Twitter)
On This Day In 1983: Former West Indies batter Sir Vivian Richards underlined the importance of power-hitting by producing an incredible knock against India in the first Test. On this day (February 28) in 1983, Richards scored 61 runs off 36 balls to guide West Indies to a memorable Test triumph against India at the Sabina Park in Kingston.
Riding on Richards’ prolific batting in the second innings, West Indies claimed a four-wicket win in that game. India was touring the West Indies for a five-match Test series and in the very first game at Kingston Jamaica, the hosts put up a brilliant show to win the game.
Being asked to bat first, India scored 251 runs in the first innings. Yashpal Sharma played a handy knock of 63 off 270 deliveries. An unexpected 68-run innings by Balwinder Sandhu batting at number 9, helped the visitors in breaching the 200-run mark. Sandhu and Sharma had stitched a 131-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
Andy Roberts claimed four wickets in the first innings. Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall bagged two wickets each for the Caribbean side.
In response, the West Indies scored 254. West Indies opening batter Gordon Greenidge emerged as the top scorer for his side, playing a 70-run knock off 249 balls. A couple of other West Indies batters got off to a good start but they could not convert it into a big score.
Having trailed by just three runs, India kicked off its second innings and scored 81 for the loss of three wickets at the end of day three. Day 4 was washed off due to weather conditions.
The Indian batting lineup endured a collapse in the second innings. From the score of 112 for 4, they were bundled up for 173 asking the hosts to chase a target of 171.
West Indies started an early onslaught with an aim to clinch a victory. Coming down to bat at 65 for 2, Vivian Richards smashed five boundaries and four sixes to score 61 off 36 balls before being dismissed by Mohinder Amarnath.
Kapil Dev picked up four wickets in the second innings but it was not enough for the visitors to avoid a defeat. West Indies, eventually, succeeded in claiming a memorable win in less than 26 overs.