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DATE : 18-09-1986

VENUE : M.A.Chidambaram Stadium, Madras (now Chennai)

MATCH : 1st Test, India Vs Australia

The M.A.Chidambaram Stadium at Chennai (earlier known as Madras) has been the venue for some of the most intriguing test matches and one day internationals. With the heat and humidity always at scorching levels, Chepauk at M.A.Chidambaram Stadium has been the stage for some of the most sterling performances in the game and not to mention the breathtaking results. Keeping the mood of reliving the breathtaking finishes intact, Cricketfundas.com takes its readers' to a Test Match played on September 18, 1986 at the Chepauk in Madras. 

It was the first of the three-test series between the Kapil Dev led India and the Allan Border led Australia. The main strength of Australia was its batting comprising of a formidable opening pair in David Boon and Geoff Marsh. With the likes of Dean Jones, Allan Border, Greg Ritchie and the young Steve Waugh to follow, India had a daunting task of bowling out the Australians after Border won the toss and batted first. David Boon notched up a hundred to set the tone for a high scoring first innings total. Dean Jones was simply superb, battling out against the Madras heat and humidity more than the thin Indian bowling, Jones carried on to score a double century. It was a typical Dean Jones' innings which had 27 fours and 2 sixes and not to forget his marvelous running between the wickets. Madras was scorching hot and Dean Jones was a victim of dehydration and inspite of that he left a mark at the Chepauk scoring that awesome 210. Australia were kind enough to declare their innings at 574/7 in just over 170 overs. 

India had a decent start with Krish Srikkanth going beserk but the homeside lost its way when the score was 62/0. Gavaskar, Amarnath and then Srikkanth fell at the same score and Australia were now in the driver's seat. Azhar, Shastri and Chandrakanth Pandit all had start to their innings but they failed to capitalise on that. It was now left with the captain - Kapil Dev to see India avoid a follow on. And a true fighter he is, Kapil scored a sensational hundred to give India a total of 397. But the lead conceded was still a massive 177. 

Time was running out and it was already the end of the fourth day. Australia were at 170/5 with a lead of 347 and Border had no option but to declare the innings and leave India a dicey target of 348 from the final day. With the sun shining on the Indian batsmen, the target of 348 started to look achievable, with all the batsmen chipping in. Sunil Gavaskar, however played the best of all the batsmen, scoring a well paced 92. India were coasting home with the score at 251/4. But Australia were not going to give up so easily and Border's trust in his two spinners Greg Mathews and Bright proved to be good. Mathews and Bright persisted with some disciplined bowling and the Indian middle order started to crumble and inturn set the match for a tense finish. 

Only Ravi Shastri was standing tall and anchoring the innings, but wickets were going down in quick time for India. Shivlal Yadav lofted a ball from Bright for a six to take India just 4 runs away from a sensational victory. But it was even more sensational for the Aussies than the Indians as Bright had his revenge by sending Shivlal back to the pavilion. 

The final over was about to be bowled by the funky offspinner Greg Mathews and India needed four runs from it and only one wicket in hand. Ravi Shastri couldn't score off the first ball, and the 2nd ball he had to step down the track to pick up a couple of important runs. The 3rd ball, Shastri played a wristy push to squareleg to take a quick single. Thus exposing the last batsman Maninder Singh, who was a typical No.11 of those days. We harldy see a typical No.11 these days however. Maninder couldn't score off the fourth ball of the over and India still needed 1 run to win and Australia had to either bowl two dot balls or dismiss Maninder. Greg Mathews took the second option and bowled a sharp offbreak and Maninder was wrapped on his pads. A loud appeal followed from the Aussies and the umpire Vikram Raju acknowledged that to mark the end of the Indian innings. What a breathtaking finish indeed! Believe it or not, it was only the 2nd tied test match in the history of this glorious game. It was a match, India was supposed to win, but had that been the case, this match may not have been talked about in our interesting and unique feature in Cricketfundas.com - AND ITS A TIE.

 

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