West Indies vs. Australia – 1978
Australia’s 1978 West Indies tour was overshadowed by controversy surrounding World Series Cricket. The Aussies left out all players who signed for Kerry Packer’s WSC. All three players with WSC contracts were dismissed in advance of the 3rd Test and the WI skipper Clive Lloyd resigned in favor of his team. Australia won the 3rd Test game, but under Alvin Kallicharran, the home side bounced back to take a 3-1 series-winning lead before reaching the final Kingston Test.
In their first innings, Peter Toohey 122 helped Australia finish with 343 while the home side was bowled out for just 280 despite Larry Gomes’ 115. The Australians were determined to end the tour with a big win, as the home team was reduced to 88/5. Vanburn Holder was later deceived in the bowling of Jim Higgs behind a few overs. Australia had an hour or so to take the last wicket and secure a victory.
On his way to the pavilion, Vanburn Holder showed contempt for himself for not remaining at the crease for long during the game’s critical juncture. Holder’s antics were noticed by the audience and thought he had been mistakenly let out.
They soon picked up rocks, bottles, or anything they got hold of and threw it to the ground. Some of them have attempted to reach the pitch inside the crowd. The police have had to step in to calm things down and safely escort the players back to their rooms. After Holder’s wicket, there was no play possible, and Australia did not get a chance to pick up the final wicket.
India vs. Sri Lanka – 1996
The Eden Gardens at Kolkata hosted the 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka. The home team India first elected to bowl and, in the very first over, picked up wickets from both openers. Javagal Srinath dismissed the top three for Sri Lanka, who scored two runs collectively. India was 98/1 in 22.3 overs before Sachin was thrown off stumped in Sanath Jayasuriya’s bowling.
India lost seven wickets in the space of 70 balls and managed to score just 22 runs. In 34.1 overs, they were reduced to 120/8 with Vinod Kambli batting on 10 * off 29 while Anil Kumble just arrived at the crease. The crowd started their violent acts in 15.5 overs when India required 132.
Game referee Sir Clive Lloyd stepped into the field to take a call as the crowd set the stands on fire and hurled objects to the ground. The disruption caused by the crowd’s outage changed the result and disqualified the Indians from the prospect of a miracle. Later the Lankan team clinched its maiden World Cup title by beating Australia in the final.
West Indies vs. Australia – 1999
The match was reduced by more than three hours to 30 overs-a-side, as the rain postponed the start. An opening stand 83 in 14.3 above laid the foundation for the West Indies team to finish in the limited 30 overs with 173/5. The 28th and 29th overs came up against as many as 27 runs where Waugh and Warne smashed a six each. The crowd breached the pitch, and the stumps were taken until Keith Arthurton walked to bowl the final over.
Waugh picked up a risky couple on the first ball of the over but failed to get even a run against the left-arm spinner on the next four shots. Arthurton agreed to bowl with the wicket-keeper standing behind, with four runs required from the last ball. Steve Waugh kicked the previous ball toward the long-on fielder’s cow-corner. Waugh finished running a two and was a few steps to the other end when Arthurton removed the bails at the end of the non-striker, even though Shane Warne was securely inside the crease.
Waugh hit the other end and finished the 3rd run as the stumps were stolen when Arthurton came back to impact the runout. As Arthurton walked away when Waugh rushed in for a third run by that point, the ball was not yet gone.
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