India entered 1983 world cup without much expectation as during last two editions, India failed miserably with only a win against weak East Africa during 1975 world cup and losing all the matches in 1979 world cup including a defeat against tiny Sri Lanka at Oval.
India started its campaign during 1983 World Cup against mighty West Indies at Old Trafford, Manchester, Lancashire on 9th June 1983. West Indies were hot favorites to win the world cup for third time and they were filled with their bunch of fast bowlers such as Michel Holding, Andy Roberts, Malcom Marshall and Joel Garner in their playing eleven and Winston Davis and Wayne Daniel were warming up in bench. Clive Lloyd won the toss and put India into bat. India opened their innings with Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikanth and they both put on 21 runs. Srikanth was the first one to get dismissed and he scored a quick 14 of 17 deliveries. Mohinder Amarnath joined Gavaskar and Gavaskar got dismissed for 19 runs when India total score was 46. Sandeep Patil came into bat, but wickets were falling at regular intervals and Amarnath got dismissed for 21 runs when team score was 76 and Sandeep Patil also dismissed for 36 when the score was 125 and Kapil Dev too added himself in the list as he got out for only 6 runs when the score was 141. India was in deep trouble with 141 for 5 wickets and at other end Yashpal Sharma was steadying Indian ship with his steady batting through nudges and pushes, taking ones and twos and occasionally finding boundaries. He played one of his best innings of his life and was the top scorer for India with 89 of 120 balls with nine boundaries before getting out. Both Roger Binny and Madan Lal chipped 20 odd runs each as tail enders and India finished their innings with 262 for 8 in 60 overs.
With only 262 runs to chase in 60 overs with an asking rate of just 4.2 runs per over, the task seems to be achievable considering the formidable batting line up, consisting of Greenidge, Haynes, Richards, Lloyd, Gomes, Bacchus and Dujon. The mighty West Indies started steadily through Gordan Greenidge and Desmond Haynes and they put on 49 runs stand for first wicket before Haynes was run out for 24 runs with a mix up with Greenidge. For a change during their partnership, Haynes was so attacking and Greenidge was playing a support role. Soon after Haynes dismissal, Greednige also got out after scoring 24 runs to his credit and West Indies was 56 for 2. Interestingly play was stopped due to bad light when West Indies were 67 for 2 in 22 overs with Richards and Bacchus were in the middle.
The game resumed next day, 10th June 1983 and of course during 1983 world cup a reserve day was provided for each game, in case the game gets held up due to unforeseen situation. West Indies started badly losing Richards in the morning for a partly 17 runs with a team score reading 76 for 3 and soon Bacchus also joined and he was back in pavilion with 14 runs to his individual contribution and team score was reading 94 for 4. Wickets started falling at regular intervals due to accurate bowling and tight fielding by India and West Indies lost it ninth wicket (Holding) at 157 runs. It was unbelievable as West Indies needs another 106 runs for victory with their last wicket pair of Roberts and Garner still holding their nerves. They both made a gallant fight back and they stitched a record last wicket partnership of 71 runs and finally the “Big Bird” Garner got out for 37 runs, stumped Kirmani to the bowling of Shastri which left Roberts at 37 unbeaten runs and history created. Yes, India won by 34 runs and for the first time in history, West Indies lost a match during their World Cup campaign with Yashpal Sharma bagging man of the match award for his gritty knock of 89 runs and once again Old Trafford become a happy hunting ground for India.
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