The carpet was laid for the show to be absorbing, the house was full as much as it could afford but what followed was Shakespearean Romeo-Juliet told in James Bond style. Romantic action or action in romance- It was complete panache, totemic of the calypso kings.
“If you are going to lose, the man you’d like to see beat you is Clive Lloyd,” says Ian Chappell, the losing captain 1975 World Cup, in remembrance of their loss to West Indies that day.
Mind you! Aussies are sour losers and this coming from the captain of the crew speaks volumes about Lloyd and his innings.
The venue was Lord's, and the game's Mecca was bathed in bright sunshine as Australian captain Ian Chappell won the toss and elected to field. It was a smart decision. After 18 overs the mighty West Indians were struggling at 50 for 3. With Fredericks, Kallicharan and Greenidge back in pavilion, Aussie pace quartet was spitting fire.
In came the be-spectacled, mighty Lloyd. People say he had college professor looks, maybe that was the day of spanking he chose for his Aussie pupils. He joined his ‘childhood hero’, the 40 year-old batsman Rohan Kanhai for the fourth wicket and then whatever followed Kanhai could only stand a silent spectator to. The 50-run stand came off 49 balls, with Kanhai's contribution being 6.
It started in the very first over when he clipped Dennis Lillee through midwicket, and when the bowler responded with a bouncer, Lloyd eased the ball over backward square leg into the top tier of the Tavern Stand.
Max Walker, whose first seven overs had only yielded 22 runs, came back and Lloyd launched a perfectly decent first ball high, back over his head for a one-bounce four to reach his half-century. Walker's next five overs went for 49, including a seemingly effortless swish from Lloyd high into the grandstand to bring up the century partnership in 89 minutes.
For Aussies, death didn’t come without chances for survival. There was a golden chance, early on, when ball deflected off the 3 pound weapon with Lloyd still on 26, but that extra butter on Ross Edwards’ fingers proved to be too costly for the Kangaroos. After that, the storm continued till next 36 overs and when it finally abated West Indies were comfortable placed on 199/4.
The blitzkrieg comprised of 12 boundaries and 2 sixes. When he finally left, being caught brilliantly by Rod Marsh off Glimour, 26000 spectators rose to their feet in awe.
“I have to pay tribute to Clive Lloyd, his innings was magnificent and it was this that changed the game at the first place…,” said Ian Chappell, after the game got over.
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