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Australia and England involved in the 2nd ever tie in One-Day Internationals

On May 27, 1989, Australia looked comfortably placed chasing 226 at Trent Bridge against England but some needless run-outs towards the fag end of the run-chase stalled the visitors' momentum. The match ended in an impasse. Sarang Bhalerao revisits the second-ever tied One-Day International (ODI).

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Australia and England involved in the 2nd ever tie in One-Day Internationals

Steve Waugh (above) was well-set and looked to take his side home. However, when Australia needed 23 to win, Ian Healy slipped on the turn and badly damaged his knee. Waugh, oblivious to that fact, kept running and when he realised that Healy had fallen it was too late for him to turn back and save his wicket. Waugh was dismissed for 43 © Getty Images

On May 27, 1989, Australia looked comfortably placed chasing 226 at Trent Bridge against England but some needless run-outs towards the fag end of the run-chase stalled the visitors’ momentum. The match ended in an impasse. Sarang Bhalerao revisits the second-ever tied One-Day International (ODI).

England were fairly confident before the second ODI against Australia at Trent Bridge especially after their thumping win by 95 runs in the first match in Manchester. On a slow wicket England posted a challenging 231 in 55 overs and Australia struggled to come to grips with the conditions and lost quick wickets which pegged them back considerably. They failed to compete in the first ODI and were beaten convincingly.

In the second ODI, England won the toss and chose to bat first. The opening combination of Graham Gooch and captain David Gower had given the home side a good platform in the first ODI. In Manchester, the duo added only 30. Gooch (10) and Gower (28) failed to convert their starts. Allan Lamb walked in at No 4 and gave impetus to the innings. He added 62 for the third wicket with Mike Gatting. After Gatting’s dismissal Robin Smith (3) and Ian Botham (8) fell in quick succession.

Lamb then stitched a useful alliance with all-rounder Derek Pringle. Lamb was the aggressor in the partnership. His chanceless century (unbeaten 100 off 105 deliveries) was his fourth ton in 82 ODIs and was punctuated by nine boundaries. Lamb and Pringle batted till the 55th over and their unbeaten sixth wicket stand of 88 helped England reach 226 for five.

Australia were steady in their run-chase. Openers David Boon and Geoff Marsh began sedately posting a stand of 59. Ian Botham cleaned up Boon which caused a shift in momentum. The runs were dried. England were bowling tight overs. Off-spinner John Emburey trapped Marsh for 34 [off 87 deliveries] and Australia were 81 for two.

Emburey picked up Dean Jones (29) and the match was interestingly poised. Allan Border, like Boon, Marsh and Jones, got a start and squandered it when he edged Pringle behind the wicket for 39. Australia kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Tom Moody gave the innings a push by hitting the first six of the match. Batting at 10, Moody misjudged a single and was run-out. Steve Waugh was well-set and looked to take his side home.

When Australia needed 23 to win Ian Healy slipped on the turn and badly damaged his knee. Waugh, oblivious to that fact, kept running and when he realised that Healy had fallen it was too late for him to turn back and save his wicket. Waugh was dismissed for 43.

Healy asked for the runner and England skipper Gower granted him one. Jones, who was one of the quickest members of the Australian team, came as a runner for Healy. But soon there was drama. Healy scampered for two runs unmindful of the fact that he had a runner. He had in fact outpaced fast Jones. Gower was absolutely angry about that and asked Jones to go back.

Geoff Lawson was dismissed in the penultimate over for one. The last over was bowled by Philip DeFreitas who was the Player-of-the-match in the previous game. With two needed from two deliveries he cleaned up Tim May. In walked Carl Rackemann. He missed the ball completely and wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes collected the ball properly and had a shy at the stumps. Healy, who a few minutes back was badly injured, scurried for a bye and sealed a tie. This was the second ever tied ODI. Australia were involved in the first tied match as well in 1984 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against the West Indies. The intriguing moments had the audience on the tenterhooks in Nottingham. And Gower was fuming even after the match ended in a tie since it was Healy’s athleticism that prevented an England win.

Lamb for his century was awarded the Player-of-the-match. As England had lost fewer wickets than Australia, they would win the Texaco Trophy even if they lost their final ODI at Lord’s.

Brief Scores:

England 226 for 5 in 55 overs (Allan Lamb 100*, Mike Gatting 37; Tim May 2 for 35) tied with Australia 226 for 8 in 55 overs (Steve Waugh 43, Allan Border 39; John Emburey 2 for 47).

(Sarang Bhalerao hails from a family of doctors, but did his engineering. He then dumped a career in IT with Infosys to follow his heart and passion and became a writer with CricketCountry. A voracious reader, Sarang aspires to beat Google with his knowledge of the game! You can follow him on Twitter here)

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