Monday 2 February 2015 11:06, UK
Richie Richardson’s hopes of bowing out of one-day cricket as a World Cup-winning skipper were thwarted as the West Indies imploded against Australia to suffer their first ever semi-final defeat.
Needing 208 to book their place in the 1996 final after Australia had recovered from the dire position of 15-4, the Windies were easing comfortably towards their target thanks in part to Brian Lara’s 45 and on 165-2 needed to score 43 runs from the last nine overs.
Even when Shivnarine Chanderpaul fell to Glenn McGrath for 80 after a 72-run stand with Richardson there seemed little danger but the left-hander’s wicket was the first of eight to fall for 37 runs as Australia ran out victors by five runs.
Shane Warne, who had earlier removed Courtney Browne with his first delivery, was the chief architect of the collapse returning man-of-the-match figures of 4-36 – including a punishing three-over spell in which he returned figures of 3-6 including the wicket of Jimmy Adams.
Richardson looked on as Keith Arthurton fell for a duck – his 1996 World Cup record worsening to just two runs from five innings – but with 10 needed from the final over, and two wickets in the bank, still had the chance to get his side over the line.
A timely four brought victory closer but Richardson then inexplicably set off for a single that resulted in the run out of Curtly Ambrose and brought in Courtney Walsh, who was bowled first ball to end the match. Richardson was left stranded on 49no.
The stunning reversal of fortune was complete, thanks in no small part to the 138-run fifth-wicket stand between Stuart Law and Michael Bevan that had given Australia any sort of total to bowl at.
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