England vs West Indies 18th Match Reliance World Cup 1987 Highlights

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Welcome to the highlights of England vs West Indies - The 18th match of the 1987 Reliance World Cup One-Day International cricket tournament between England and West Indies was played at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on October 26, 1987.

Graham Gooch hit 92 © YouTube

Match Overview:

Opener Graham Gooch's brilliant 92 and Bowlers attack helped to England stunning 34-run victory over West Indies, despite a Richie Richardson's fighting 93 and storm into the semi-finals in the 18th match of a Reliance World Cup.

Match Report:

Match Report by: Peter Deeley

Source: The Daily Telegraph

A COURAGEOUS decision by England to include their two spinners on the Jaipur wicket, which from its greenish top seemed to offer most encouragement to fast bowlers, was instrumental in the defeat of West Indies by 34 runs.

The victory took them to the brink of the World Cup semi-finals. Both Emburey and Hemmings, when they were introduced for their first spells, faced the challenge of batsmen beginning to scent a good haul of runs on the fast outfield.

Each had to withstand a personal onslaught, Richards hitting Hemmings for two enoromous sixes and Richardson treating Emburey in similar fashion.

But what was important for England was that both were mature enough to take their punishment and wait for the inevitable mistakes as the West Indians were forced to push the scoring rate along.

The real hero

Of Emburey, little more needs to be said about his Micawberish line and length. He will not mind if Hemmings is singled out as the real hero of the side.

Early in the tour, Hemmings seemed to be melting away in the hot weather, but he was an inspiration to his side in the field, and when shoulders were beginning to droop as the third-wicket partnership between Richards and his protegé, Richardson, assumed sinister proportions, the Nottinghamshire man was prepared to chase when younger legs were giving up.

There was, too, his throw from more than 20 yards which caught Harper trying to steal a quick run. But most exhilarating of all for English hearts was the moment when he bowled Richards, though, to be honest, it was an irresponsible shot by the West Indies' captain which brought about his downfall.

Richards, who had scored 51, played over a straight ball which hit his off-stump. Richards and Richardson, coming together when West Indies were 65 for two, added 82 runs in slightly under 18 overs and were beginning to dominate the game. But, thereafter, only Richardson stood between England and victory.

Though his 93 was the highest innings of the game, and included eight fours and a six, he tired badly towards the end, as did Graham Gooch, who, with 92, was England's sheet anchor.

The heat was clearly debilitating to the batsman. West Indies' last six wickets went down for a mere 27 runs, Downton starting the rot with an inspirational catch off a Hooper edge.

Clyde Walcott, the West Indies manager, put his finger on the core of his team's misfortunes when he said that the three extra overs the bowlers had given England through their waywardness had cost them the match.

The 38 extras were the third highest contribution to England's cause - 22 of them coming from wides.

Richards traps Gatting

Richardson left the field in tears when he was out and Richards was said by his manager to be too sick to talk about the defeat and its consequences.

West Indies even had the advantage of winning the toss and making England bat on a wicket with considerable life and movement.

Walsh at least did not let them down on this occasion, giving away only 24 runs, and with luck might have had wickets.

At the other end of the scale was Hooper, only trusted with three overs-from which came 27 runs.

Richards was forced to bowl himself and succeeded not only in tieing up Gooch and Gatting but trapped his opposite number leg-before with yet another flawed sweep.

No English batsman other than Gooch, who won the Man of the Match award, really capitalised on their good start, and England were indebted to Emburey at the end for an invaluable 24 not out off 16 balls.

England now have only to beat Sri Lanka on Friday to ensure their place in the Bombay semi-final.

In-Depth Match Highlights:

England scored 269-5 in 50 overs with top scorer by Graham Gooch struck 92 off 137-balls - who fell eight-run short of his century - including 7-fours.

Allan Lamb scored 40 off 52-balls including 3-fours, Mike Gatting hit 25 off 24-balls included a boundary, John Emburey blasted a unbeaten 24 off 16-balls contained 4-fours and Bill Athey 21.

West Indies best bowler by Patrick Patterson picked up 3-wickets and one for Viv Richards - Roger Harper.

West Indies scored 235 for all-out in 48.1 overs with top scorer by Richie Richardson cracked a 93 off 130-balls - who fell seven-run short of his century - including 8-fours & a six.

Viv Richards hit a run-a-ball 51-runs including 4-fours & 3-sixes, Phil Simmons struck 25 off 28-balls included 4-fours and Gus Logie 22.

England best bowler by Phil DeFreitas picked up 3-wickets for 28-runs in 9.1-overs, John Emburey, Eddie Hemmings both took 2-wickets and one for Neil Foster - Gladstone Small.

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