Cricket Viral Video: Before the early 2000s, India’s test team had a poor record while playing away games, particularly in countries such as Australia, South Africa, and West Indies. However, on March 31, 1997, India had an excellent opportunity to win a test match in Barbados.
India’s surprising defeat in the match
West Indies captain Brian Lara was playing his first test match as captain and was eager to make an impact. In the first innings, Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored his maiden test century and helped West Indies reach a total of 298. Despite the absence of Javagal Srinath due to injury, Venkatesh Prasad led the Indian pace attack and took five wickets in the first innings.
In response, India played well and scored 92 runs from Sachin Tendulkar and 78 runs from Rahul Dravid. However, the West Indian bowling trio of Ambrose, Bishop, and Rose caused a collapse in the Indian lower order, and India was all out for 319, with just a 21-run lead.
In the second innings, Mumbai fast bowler Abey Kuruvilla took his only five-wicket haul in international cricket, and despite good bowling throughout the innings, the Indian bowlers failed to close out the innings. West Indies were all out for 140, giving India a target of 120 runs to win their first test match in West Indies since 1976. However, the pitch in Bridgetown was difficult to bat on, with irregular bounce and cracks.
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On the fourth day, India started with just 2 runs on the board, with VVS Laxman and Navjot Singh Sidhu batting. Sidhu was dismissed early, and Dravid also fell soon after. Laxman was bowled by Franklyn Rose, and India was struggling at 32/3. The senior West Indian bowlers Ambrose and Bishop then took control of the game. Tendulkar was caught by Lara for just four runs, and both Ganguly and Azhar were bowled by Ambrose.
With minimal support from the lower order, India was all out for just 81 runs, giving West Indies an unexpected victory. Ambrose and Bishop took three and four wickets, respectively. This was India’s seventh-lowest score, and they missed a great opportunity to win their elusive overseas test match. India had to wait until 2001 to achieve that feat.
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