March 20, 2000 – 99 too many to chase for Zimbabwe

By the late 1990s, West Indies’ dominance decline and Australia began to build supremacy over the World Cricket with titles and winning streaks to their name. The Caribbean team started 2000 with a home Test series against Zimbabwe after losing nine of their previous 11 Test matches in 1998-1999. Zimbabwe were at their prime in the format and cruised towards a famous win against the hosts. But soon the latest Test playing nation understood that the Windies were not that easy either.

Zimbabwe elected to bowl in the first Test of the 2-match series at the Port of Spain on a pitch with lively grass. The hosts struggled against the opponent pacers especially Heath Streak, who took four wickets for just 45 runs. The debutants Wavell Hinds (46) and Chris Gayle (33) were the top scorers for West Indies who were bowled out for 187. The leg-spinner Brian Murphy made his Test debut in the game and bagged three wickets.

West Indies reduced the visitors to 0/2 by dismissing Neil Johnson on the first ball of the innings and Grant Flower in the 2nd over. The skipper Andy Flower, who walked out to bat at 27/3, shared 117-run partnership with Trevor Gripper (41) and a 68-run stand for the 7th wicket with Steak (20). However, Zimbabwe lost their last four wickets for just four runs before getting dismissed for 236. Andy Flower remained unbeaten on 113 off 290 balls during his 431-minute stay.

A mammoth 99-run target for Zimbabwe:

The cracks on the track started to open from the fourth day as the Windies batsmen collapsed in their 2nd innings as well. The hosts were bowled out for 147 losing their last seven wickets for just 32 runs as Heath Streak took a 5-wicket haul adding to his 4-fer in the first essay. Only Shivnarine Chanderpaul (49), Jimmy Adams (27) and SL Campbell (23) were the only players to get into double digits. Zimbabwe walked out to chase 99 on the final day in their first meeting against the Windies.

Despite losing three wickets for 40 runs at lunch, Zimbabwe were confident of their chances with Flower brothers at the crease. An in-swinger from Franklyn Rose handed the wicket of Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower who was caught behind for just five. Courtney Walsh brought an end to Grant Flower’s 172-minute stay as the opener was cleaned up on a delivery that kept low. Flower departed for 26 as Zimbabwe were half down for 51 and match started to tilt towards the home side’s way.

Stuart Carlisle was caught behind in the very next over trying to take on Rose. The pacer trapped Heath Streak for a duck in the same over to reduce Zimbabwe to 57/7. Curtly Ambrose took the last three wickets for just one run as the visitors were done and dusted for 63 runs and lost the game by 35 runs. Thus West Indies became only the 2nd team and the first in 118 years of Test cricket to successfully defend a target below 100. England failed to chase 85 against Australia in the 1882 Oval Test.