West Indies vs Sri Lanka 2008: When Port of Spain witnessed a classic ODI encounter

Shivnarine Chanderpaul jumps in joy after hitting a final ball six

Sri Lanka are on a tour to West Indies. It is the first ODI of the three-match bilateral series between the two nations, the conditions are overcast and moisture in the pitch should provide early assistance to the seam bowlers. Chris Gayle wins the toss and has no hesitation in fielding first.

Sri Lanka start off in terrible fashion

Upul Tharanga and the debutant Mahela Udawatte open the innings for Sri Lanka. Gayle isn't disappointed by his bowlers who vindicate his decision to bowl first. A quick burst from Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Bravo, who make the most of the conditions, leave the Lankans tottering at 49/5 at the end of 15 overs. Bravo accounts for three dismissals while Taylor and Edwards share a wicket each. Most of the dismissals were due to failure of the batsmen to account for movement of the ball.

Lankan stalwarts Jayawardene and Sangakkara failed to judge the height of the rising ball and were caught in the slip cordon. With the bowlers on fire, a meek surrender from the SL lower order and tail looked imminent. With the last recognized batting pair at the crease, Chamara Silva and Chamara Kapugedara start rebuilding the Islanders’ innings. They bat with patience and try to build a partnership. The pair keeps rotating the strike and keeps the scoreboard ticking with occasional boundaries. Slowly and steadily they add 53 runs in 15 overs, taking the Sri Lankan total over 100.

With the pitch easing out and the batsmen entering a comfort zone, they up the ante and start scoring at a faster rate. Adding 57 runs in the next 10 overs, they build a strong century partnership giving Sri Lanka a shot at a respectable total. Both the batsmen reach their personal milestone of half-century. The pair adds 48 runs in the next 6 overs pushing the Lankan total over 200 and crossing 150-runs in partnership.

West Indian bowlers restrict Sri Lanka

With a game on the cards, Sri Lanka look to be in a position to give their bowlers a good total to defend. However, Bravo and Edwards had other ideas. They dismiss both the set batsmen and keep the runs in check. Nevertheless, SL end their innings at 235 for 7, a total highly improbable given an extremely poor start. Silva and Kapugedara register a record of the highest sixth-wicket partnership when the top order caved in under a score of 50 runs.

West Indies have a steady start reaching 50 without losing a wicket in 12 overs. Despite losing Devon Smith in the 14th over, WI keep inching towards the target through Gayle and Sarwan. After adding 56 runs for the 2nd wicket, Gayle is dismissed by the debutant Ajantha Mendis for a well-made captain's half-century. Jayawardene immediately brought Kulasekara into the attack and was instantly rewarded with the wickets of Sarwan and Samuels. West Indies went from 109/1 to 110/4 and reached 192/5 at the end of 44 overs, requiring 44 to win off 6 overs.

With Chanderpaul at the crease, the task appears easy. However, debutant Mendis produces a twist in the tale by picking two wickets in consecutive overs. West Indies slide to 219/8 in 48 overs needing 17 to win off the last two overs, with Chanderpaul still there at the crease.

The climax

Another debutant Sulieman Benn walks out to bat. Kulasekara to bowl. Benn tries to connect bat with the ball but misses, misses again, misses for the third again and is beaten again on the 4th ball of the over. The equation becomes 17 required off 8 balls with 2 wickets in hand. Benn finally connects the ball and bat and runs frantically. Jayawardene ends his miserable stay at the crease with a direct hit. The 9th wicket falls, WI need 17 to win off 7 balls.

As the batsmen crossed, Chanderpaul takes the strike and dispatches the ball to the boundary to reach his half-century. The scorecard reads – West Indies 223/9, 49 overs, needing 13 to win off 6 balls.

Veteran Vaas gets to bowl the last over. Fidel Edwards takes the strike. First ball is a dot. 13 off 5. Edwards gets a single and so does Chanderpaul. 11 off 3. Another low full-toss and Edwards squeezes past mid-off for yet another single. With just 3 runs coming of the first 4 balls, Chanderpaul is left with a daunting task of scoring 10 in 2 balls. Vaas over-pitches outside off and the ball rockets to the fence. The boundary keeps WI alive leaving Chander with only one option. 6 runs to win, 1 ball, 1 wicket.

The final delivery

A batsman can be dismissed in ten ways, this means we have ten ways of producing a dot ball or rather preventing a six. A normal ball can yield runs in six ways. There can be a dot ball. Only one permutation out of these 17 instances can take West Indies to victory. Vaas produces a ball which reminded cricket universe of Chetan Sharma bowling to Javed Miandad two decades ago. A full toss at appropriate height, which is gleefully clubbed by Chanderpaul over deep midwicket and the balls goes sailing over the fence for a SIX.

West Indies finish an enthralling chase on a high and win a match they truly deserved. The match was fraught with many turns and twists with the balance swinging every few overs. Sri Lanka's early collapse followed by a healthy recovery was in stark contrast with West Indies’ steady start and a stutter half-way through their chase. West Indies fought back, but Mendis almost snatched a victory from jaws of defeat.

It was a nail-biting finish and it indeed kept the spectators on the edge of their seats. Emotions were high and my romance with cricket deepened. The match only re-iterated that how many matches you watch, there will be yet another match which will totally surprise you. A stellar performance by Chanderpaul who kept his cool helped West Indies to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Man of the Match was given to Dwayne Bravo for his 4 wickets and a quick-fire 36.