Richards superb

Press, 2 June 1984, Page 72

Richards superb

NZPA-Reuter Manchester Viv Richards played the greatest innings in the history of one-day cricket to hammer England into submission in the opening oneday international at Old Trafford yesterday. He scored 189 not out, the highest individual score in a limited overs international. But that tells only part of the story. His innings began under pressure, weathered a surprise West Indian collapse and finally matured with a stunning array of strokes. He shepherded the touring team through to nine for 272 from their 55 overs and then stood back to watch his bowlers fire out England for 168. The 104-run margin of defeat was the heaviest in terms of runs suffered by an English side in a one-day match against the West Indies. Richards’ score surpassed the previous highest in oneday internationals of 175 made by the Indian skipper, Kapil Dev, against Zimbabwe during last year’s World Cup. The 32-year-old Antiguan

played a flood of such breathtaking strokes that long before the end of the innings the England bowlers found it impossible to contain him. His monopoly of the strike during a last wicket stand of 103 with Michael Holding was tribute to his superb placement and tactical awareness. The West Indies vice-cap-tain batted 221 minutes, faced 170 deliveries and hit five sixes and 21 fours. He nursed Holding so expertly that the fast bowler needed to face only 27 balls in the last 14 overs. His share of the stand was 93, the highlight being an enormous six which disappeared over the seating at the Warwick Road end of the ground. They found themselves precariously placed at seven for 114 at lunch but the recovery began to take shape when Eldine Baptiste helped Richards to add 59 for the eighth wicket. England needed a good start against the world’s best pace attack, but when Gower was well caught onehanded by Gordon Greenidge at square leg they were four for 48 and out of the running. Richards said: “I may have played better but in that situation it was probably my finest innings.” ® New Zealand’s Bevan Congdon is among the former cricket captains from seven countries who will be invited to Adelaide in December for the centenary of the picturesque test oval. The celebrations will be held in conjunction with the third test against the West Indies, 100 years after England beat Australia by eight wickets in the first test at Adelaide in December, 1884.