Australia tour of West Indies 2-match one-day international series of the 2nd ODI match played between Australia vs West Indies at Castries, St. Lucia in 12th April 1978 - Australia won by 2-wickets.
St. Lucia put on its first real cricket show on the 12th April, a one-day international between the West Indies and Australia which revealed all the game's glorious uncertainties, Australia winning off the last ball and drawn the 2-match ODI series with 1-1.
In this match twice the heavy showers came down from Bocage, following the Castries, river that runs behind the rin, long-off fence over which Vanburn Holder hit Bruce Yardley for 6 and caused the split, soggy ball to be replaced.
And sending the groundsmen scurrying out with two wheel-barrows loaded with pink and green covers, neatly folded like bed sheets.
Others ran with covers flying behind them, like big, black kites. To hold them down in the wind they knocked the match stumps into six holes on the edges.
When the sun shone again the crowd in the outer surged to the rope boundary like a golf gallery hungry for Nicklaus, Others clambered on the tin roofing of the three one-deck stands.
Seven thousand people people in all more if you counted those stretched along the ground or the little boy who shinned up a 20 metre coconut palm behind long-off.
St. Lucia's biggest show just had to go on, in between showers the West Indies and Australia played the sort of unnecessary panic cricket in the limited-35-over matches inspire and in the end a tie would surely have been the fairest result.
West Indies good started they put 48-run stand for first wicket partnership between debutant Alvin Greenidge and West Indies temporary captain Alvin Kallicharran.
The West Indies team went from 48-1 to 92-8 with a quite mind-bending display of batting suicide, Alvin Greenidge (23), a Test bat didn't ground his bat when Bruce Yardley's throw hit the stumps.
Debutant Larry Gomes (7) a Test bat hit a terrible long hop but ball goes to Rick Darling hands at forward square off Bob Simpson, Faoud Bacchus (0) lollied a half-volley to caught and bowl by Bob Simpson.
Irvine Shillingford (6) a repeated the hook shot that got him out in the third Test, popping it gently to mid-on.
Even so the Australians managed three brilliant catches Rick Darling's off Larry Gomes was a real stinger, two hands high above his head and Bob Simpson leaped high to his right to catch Alvin Kallicharran (34) at first slip off a sharp Nick.
But Ian Callen's was The catch, debutant Derick Parry clipped one back and the Victorian medium pacer swivelling to his right in his following caught the ball in his outstretched right hand as he dived.
This was quality fielding backing an attack that never once faltered despite soggy runs-ups.
Bruce Yardley took 2-14 his 7-overs spell was perfect, A spinner in this type of cricket just shouldn't bowl that tight and remember he was hit for 6.
The batting was perfect too when Peter Toohey and Rick Darling reached 1-61 with a little help from Irvine Shillingford and Vanburn Holder, who dropped sitters.
But then both batsmen holed out - Rick Darling to deep cover, Peter Toohey to backward square and prompted such a case of the jumps that even Bob Simpson ran out Craig Serjeant.
The Australian captain lost his own wicket with seven runs needed from nine balls to go, an extraordinary attempt to hit West Indies debutant paceman Phillip Alleyne for 6 over-mid-wicket.
Derick Parry ran from half-way to the boundary at square almost to mid-wicket and disappeared into the milling crowd holding aloft the amazing catch in two hands.
Minutes later that same milling crowd was all over the field, rejoicing as Bruce Yardley left, another run out with two runs needed from 3 balls to go.
The ground announcer local cricket president Julien Hunte went wild too "Get off the ground, get off the ground" he screeched over and over until his voice or the sound system - which had sounded like a strangled cow mooing for most of the day - gave in.
They got off, only to come back when Jeff Thompson ran helter-skelter for a slogged single off the last ball to win the game.
Australia captain Bob Simpson named player of the match for his all-round performance of 2-30 and scored 23 off facing 29 deliveries including one six and one four.
* This above modified Article reference from (T.A) Author by John Benaud
Australia vs West Indies 1st ODI at St John's - 22nd February 1978
West Indies won by 44 runs with revised target, which was first revised target match in one-day cricket history.
West Indies 313/9 in their allotted 50-overs, which was first ever 50-overs limited-match in one-day international (ODI) cricket history) and which was the first ever six-ball over match.
West Indies batting top scorer by debutant Desmond Haynes (148), who was the second player scored a debut ODI century in one-day cricket history and who was the first player scored a highest individual scorer in debut match in cricket history.
Temporary captain Deryck Murray (51), and debutant Irvine Shillingford (24).
Australia best bowler by Jeff Thompson 4-67, debutant Trevor Laughlin 3-54 - Wayne Clark and Ian Callen each took 1-1 wickets - both playing their first ODI match).
Temporary captain Deryck Murray (51), and debutant Irvine Shillingford (24).
Australia best bowler by Jeff Thompson 4-67, debutant Trevor Laughlin 3-54 - Wayne Clark and Ian Callen each took 1-1 wickets - both playing their first ODI match).
Australia scored a 181/7 in 36-overs with revised target of 226 off 36 overs) with top scorer by Gary Cosier (84), debutant Graeme Wood (24) and Steve Rixon (20) - both playing their first one-day international match.
West Indian debutant opener Desmond Haynes named Player of the match for his debut one-day international hundred knock of 148 off facing 136-deliveries including sixteen 4s and two 6s.
West Indian debutant opener Desmond Haynes named Player of the match for his debut one-day international hundred knock of 148 off facing 136-deliveries including sixteen 4s and two 6s.
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