Tony Becca

Three days after the West Indies had stepped out of the grave to defeat Pakistan and to make it two victories from two matches in World Cup 1975 following their earlier victory over Sri Lanka, they took on Australia, conquerors of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, at The Oval to decide the winners of the group. And for those who love exciting batting, for those who enjoy the sight of fast bowlers being caned, it was a match to remember.

Batting first after Clive Lloyd had won the toss and sent them to bat, Australia lost Rick McCosker at zero for one and were sinking fast at 61 for five with brothers Ian and Greg Chappell and Doug Walters back in the pavilion.

Fortunately for Australia, however, the stylish Ross Edwards, 58, and the plucky Rodney Marsh, 52, turned up with a six-wicket partnership of 99 and took them to a respectable if far from commanding total.

Left with a target of 193 from 60 overs to win the match, the West Indies lost Gordon Greenidge for 16 at 29 for one before the pair of left-handed Guyanese, opening batsman Roy Fredericks and Alvin Kallicharran, moved into the Australian attack headed by pacers Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson and Max Walker and off-spinner Ashley Mallett and powered the Windies to victory with seven wickets in hand and 14 overs to spare.

Always in command

Known for his audacious hooks and flashing cuts against fast bowlers, Fredericks scored an aggressive 58 and was always in command.

His five boundaries were strokes of authority.

The innings which made the match not only memorable but also unforgettable, however, was the one from Kallicharran.

Going to bat at the fall of Greenidge, Kallicharran paraded every stroke in the book while scoring 78 before, after batting for 106 minutes and facing a mere 83 deliveries, after smashing 14 fours and slamming one six, after a second-wicket stand of 124 with Fredericks, he made it two down for 153 when he went at Lillee once too often and was caught by Mallett.

Hammered lillee

Kallicharran, cutting off the front-foot and off the back-foot, hooking off the front-foot and off the back-foot, man-handled the feared Lillee as no one has ever done and was responsible for most of the 61 runs that came off the unfortunate bowler's 10 overs.

Off the last nine deliveries before he greedily went for Lillee again, Kallicharran spanked the express pacer, one of the greatest fast bowlers that ever lived, for 4,4,4,4,4,1,6,0 and 4 in one of the finest batting displays in the history of the Cup.

It was short but it was sweet, really sweet.

THE STROKE PLAYERS GO AT IT: Power hitting Clive Lloyd at left slamming one through the covers during his undefeated knock of 99 at Sabina Park yesterday. At right century maker, the diminutive left handed stroke player Alvin Kallicharran hooks, towards the square leg boundry during his unbeaten innings of 122. - file