Fifty years ago, Bishan Singh Bedi’s Indian team became only the second side in Test history to achieve a 400-plus run fourth innings target to stun Clive Lloyd’s West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain
A 2007 image of the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, where India chased their way to glory on April 12, 1976. Pic/mid-day archives, Suresh Karkera
After Don’s team, Bedi & Co
April 12, 1976, was a watershed moment in Indian cricket. India became only the second team to chase down a 400-plus victory target in a Test match after Don Bradman’s 1948 Invincible Australian team beat England at Leeds. Set a victory target of 403 runs by Clive Lloyd’s West Indies, Bishan Singh Bedi’s men combined ability with grit and gumption to provide another low blow to a team which, a massive victory in the opening Test at Barbados notwithstanding, were still carrying the scars of their 1-5 defeat in Australia earlier in the year.
Spin won’t win
What happened 50 years ago on this day in Trinidad was not only an incredible achievement for India. It also brought about a change in mindset for Clive Lloyd in his quest to usher in West Indies’s dominance of world cricket under him. Lloyd decided that only his best bowlers would make the cut on the team sheet and the need to use a spinner merely because of tradition, took a back seat. At Trinidad, West Indies played left-arm spinner Raphick Jumadeen, and debutants Albert Padmore (off-break) and local boy Imtiaz Ali (leg-break). Simply put, spin was not going to be major ammunition for Lloyd.
A page from Sportsweek magazine
Sunny roars at Trinidad again
Let’s say Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad, has been kind to India. For the fourth time in a row across two India vs West Indies Test series, India had denied West Indies victory there. India won the first of the 1971 Tests at Trinidad when Sunil Gavaskar made his debut with significant scores of 65 and 67 not out. Later, in the fifth Test here, which drew the curtains down on the memorable series, Gavaskar scored 124 and 220. In 1976, Gavaskar was the opposition’s thorn again with a second innings century that provided first hopes of an improbable victory. Less than a year ago then he was criticised for his unbeaten 36 in a 60-over World Cup match against England. Here, he ended Day Four on 86 out of India’s 134-1. Gavaskar’s 102 was his second ton at Trinidad in the series.
Vishy magic
Gundappa Vishwanath, India’s second centurion in the innings, notched up his fourth century under the India cap. Celebrated commentator and writer Tony Cozier was impressed. “Vishwanath’s 112, stretching three hours, 40 minutes, had 15 fours, the majority through the off-side including two superb, ferocious square cuts off bouncers from [Michael] Holding with the second new ball. His partnership with Mohinder added 159 and, with only 67 needed off a possible 21 overs, he walked back to a standing ovation from the crowd, knowing India were virtually home,” the late Cozier wrote in the 1976 edition of West Indies Cricket Annual.
Ouch.. that run out
High praise from Cozier’s pen was reserved for Mohinder Amarnath too, who was run out for 85. “It would have been fitting for Mohinder to be at the wicket when the winning run was struck for he deserved the honour. Gavaskar and Vishwanath will always be remembered for the brilliance of their batting in this match, but so will Mohinder for the considerable part he played,” wrote Cozier.
Doing it in partnerships
To chase a big total, a side must have substantial partnerships and this is what India enjoyed on the last two days of the Test. Sunil Gavaskar and Aunshuman Gaekwad put on 69 for the first wicket. The second wicket stand between Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath yielded 108 runs while 159 were put on by Mohinder and Gundappa Vishwanath. The Mohinder-Brijesh Patel alliance saw a 56-run stand before Patel and Madan Lal stayed unbeaten in their 14-run partnership.
Host of problems
West Indies captain Clive Lloyd was obviously disappointed. “[Michael] Holding could find nothing in the pitch and, I am sorry to say, the spin trio [Raphick Jumadeen, Albert Padmore, and Imtiaz Ali] was just not up to it. [Sunil] Gavaskar and [Gundappa] Vishwanath put their heads down and batted really well for centuries and young Mohinder Amarnath supported them admirably. They lost only four wickets on the way, and the fact that two of them were run out does not say much for the way we bowled,” Lloyd wrote in his book, Living for Cricket.
Jimmy’s grit and tears
How would you react if you were told India were not looking at a win, but aiming to draw the Test? Mohinder ‘Jimmy’ Amarnath in Fearless, written recently with brother Rajender, said: “To be honest, we were not chasing the target, but rather trying to save the Test match.” Mohinder also revealed that he was shattered when he was run out. But after the win, he was overcome with emotion. “I covered my face with a towel and tears instantly rolled down my cheeks.”
Mustn’t forget Bedi, Chandra
There were other heroes for India too, in the form of BS Chandrasekhar and BS Bedi. They claimed six and four wickets respectively to stop the West Indies racing away to a 400-plus total in the first innings. The hosts began Day Two at 320-5 with Chandrasekhar having claimed all the five. Viv Richards looked good at 155, having put on 124 runs with his skipper Clive Lloyd the previous day, but perished for 177 before the hosts were dismissed for 359.
That man Kalli again
Alvin Kallicharran, the man who probably reserved his best for India, made up for his first innings duck with a grand century in the second innings, following which Clive Lloyd declared at 271-6 to set India a 403-run target. Cozier reported that the southpaw batted with a stiff right arm, caused by “a touch of fibrositis.”
What came next
Michael Holding
In the next and final Test at Jamaica, local boy Michael Holding showed how devastating he could be. His fellow pacemen for this Test were Wayne Daniel, Bernard Julien, and Vanburn Holder. Clive Lloyd’s side had just Raphick Jumadeen in the spin department. Gundappa Vishwanath was taken to hospital by manager Polly Umrigar for a broken finger. Soon, Gavaskar and assistant manager Balu Alaganan accompanied Aunshuman Gaekwad to the same hospital for a blow behind his left ear off a Holding delivery. Brijesh Patel landed in hospital too when a ball from Holder cut his upper lip, forcing BS Bedi to declare at 306-6. After putting up a first innings score of 391, the West Indies were all set to have another crack at the Indians. S Venkataraghavan became the fifth batsman to be dismissed with the score on 97. That’s when captain Bedi shut shop with ‘absent hurt’ marked against Gaekwad, Vishwanath, Patel, Bedi and BS Chandrasekhar. West Indies reached their 13-run victory target with 10 wickets to spare. The Indians felt they were victims of Lloyd’s intimidatory tactics, aimed to save his captaincy.
Heroes of the 403-run chase
Sunil Gavaskar… 102
Mohinder Amarnath… 85
Gundappa Vishwanath… 112
Brijesh Patel… 49
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