May 31, 1984 – Sir Viv Richards scored on of the greatest one-day international (ODI) innings ever with a spellbinding 189 from 170 balls not out, to include five (5) sixes and twenty-one (21) fours, against England at Old Trafford. Noteworthy is the 86 runs from the last 58 balls of the innings which included nine (9) fours and five (5) sixes. The overall strike rate 111.18.
West Indies were tottering on 102 for 7 in the 26th over having lost Haynes (1 run, 5 balls), in the 2nd over, then Greenidge (9 runs, 11 balls) , followed by Richardson (6 runs, 24 balls), Gomes (4 runs, 17 balls), Lloyd (8 runs, 21 balls), then Dujon ( no runs, 1 ball) and Marshall (4 runs, 3 balls).
Richards took on the English bowling attack and led a massive comeback for his team. His first ally of note was Baptiste (26 runs, 49 balls) with a 59-run partnership, then Garner (3 runs, 5 balls) fell. Undeterred Richards was abetted by Holding in a last wicket partnership of 108 runs, of which Holding scored 12 runs from 27 balls.
Inside his outstanding innings Richards completed his hundred with a punched on-drive off Botham, his close friend and then Somerset team-mate. It was his 7th one day international hundred off 112 deliveries, with 12 boundaries.
Among remarks by the commentary team it was said, “The ball kept disappearing into the crowd and beyond. At the end of the mayhem, the once buoyant Englishmen gingerly clapped the master back to the pavilion, having lost the last inclination to fight back.”
At the end of the spectacular innings Sir Viv walked off the field to a standing ovation around the park with added jubilation from the West Indians littered among the spectators.
Sir Viv’s contribution during the 1st One Day International extended to include two (2) wickets from eleven (11) overs, (45 runs, 1 maiden). West Indies won by 104 runs.
Scorecard Summary
West Indies 272 for 9 in 55 overs (Viv Richards 189*; Geoff Miller 3 for 32) England 168 in 50 overs (Allan Lamb 75; Joel Garner 3 for 18) by 104 runs.
The Match was the first of a three match one day international series between England and the West Indies, the 264th game in ODI history. Sir Viv eclipsed Kapil Dev’s who previously held the record for the highest individual score in an one day international innings.
Innings Factoids
- Sir Viv Richards became the first batter to score 150 or more runs in an ODI innings for more than once.
- Highest individual score in an ODI innings (currently, it is in joint 12th position). This record remained unharmed till Pakistan cricketer Saeed Anwar scored 194 runs against India at Chennai on 21st May 1997.
- Highest percentage of runs (69.48%) in a completed ODI innings. This record still intact.
- Highest 10th wicket partnership in ODI history (106* between Sir Viv Richards and Michael Holding). This record is still intact.
- Highest individual score in an ODI innings by a no.4 or lower-order batter.
- Highest individual score in an ODI innings in England as well as in Europe.
- Highest individual score in an ODI innings by a non-opener outside the home soil.
Photo credit
Viv Richards hooks Derek Pringle to the boundary on his way to a record 189 not out. He added 106 for the last wicket with Michael Holding, Richards scoring 93 of them © Getty Images
Embed in the body please (the youtube link below).