Kapil’s Indian ‘Devils’ just magic
West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd was poised to hold aloft the World
Cup for a third time, only to see Kapil’s “Devils” from India snatch it
away in one of the biggest surprises.
The West Indies were favourites having won the event twice, while
India were outsiders having won just one match — against a lowly East
Africa in 1975 — in the previous two tournaments.
The 17-day event was bigger than the previous ones as there were 27
matches instead of 15, with each side playing against the other twice in
the four-team group.
The tournament began on a sensational note, with India shocking the
West Indies in a group match at Old Trafford and minnows Zimbabwe
upsetting Australia on the strength of a superb all-round performance by
Duncan Fletcher, who later coached England.
India had already posted a morale-boosting win over the West Indies
at Berbice in Guyana before the tournament. “The faith and self-belief
in our approach had been born during those two victories (at Berbice and
Old Trafford),” Dev said.
“To beat the West Indies in their own country especially was
practically unheard of in those days. Yes, these two results were the
key to our success.” Australia were to face to the West Indies’ fury in
the next match as they were dismissed for 151 chasing a 253-run target,
with paceman Winston Davis taking 7-51 — then a Cup record.
The West Indies won their remaining four group matches before putting
it across Pakistan in the semi-final. India faced many anxious moments,
losing to the West Indies in their second group encounter and then to
Australia before finding themselves in a deep trouble against Zimbabwe.
They were 17-5 when Dev played a brilliant innings at Tunrbidge
Wells, a blazing 175 not out off just 138 balls with the help of six
sixes and 16 fours to help his team post a competitive 266-8. Zimbabwe
eventually lost the match by 31 runs, but won plenty of hearts with
their gutsy batting. India beat Australia in the last group match to set
up a semi-final clash with England.
They again proved their all-round ability to defeat the hosts by six
wickets. It looked a three-in-a-row for the West Indies when India
managed only 183 in the final against a formidable pace attack of Andy
Roberts, Joel Garner, Michael Holding and Malcolm Marshall.
But Indian medium-pacers Madan Lal, Mohinder Amarnath, Balwinder
Sandhu and Roger Binny were superbly marshalled by Dev. If there were
one catch that swung the final India’s way, it was Dev’s to account for
Richards.
NEW DELHI, AFP |