There was a positive buzz about the Indian team when they left for the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999. Beaming with talented young players and a good mix of experience, though not favourites, India surely were among the top contenders. Last time to this when the World Cup was staged in England, India were the champions and the hype was around this team to emulate the performance put up by Kapil Dev’s men in 1983. ALSO READ: Cricket World Cup 1999: India excel beyond imagination to earn defeat.
Despite putting up a brave fight, India lost to the tournament favourite South Africa at Hove and now had a job in their hands when they took on their previous opponent’s neighbours at Leicester. India were expected to steamroll this ‘not-so-strong’ opponent in their bid to qualify for the Super Six. The previous year had seen some memorable contests between Sachin Tendulkar and young Zimbabwean pacer Henry Olonga with the latter being subjected to some harsh treatment from the batting maestro in a tri-nation tournament final in Sharjah.
Zimbabwe had tested India but in a World Cup match, India started as clear favourites. However, it was not to be India’s day. The nation woke up to the news of the demise of Tendulkar’s father. The favourite son of the nation was shattered at this and rushed back to India for funeral.
Tendulkar’s father’s namesake Ramesh replaced the massive boots. Sadagoppan Ramesh later went on to top score for India in the game.
After winning the toss, Mohammad Azharuddin invited Alistair Campbell’s men to bat. Indian bowlers bowled in the right channels, but the Zimbabweans were not willing to give up. The Flower brothers added 57 for the fourth wicket, with the senior Andy carrying it till the end with an unbeaten 68.
Zimbabwe had managed 252, but a one-fifth of the score was propelled by extras bowled by the Indians. 15 no balls and 15 wides contributed to the 51 extras and India were docked four overs for their slow over-rate. However, this did not overshadow wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia’s scalping of five dismissals in the match.
When Sourav Ganguly beautifully drove the first ball past Eddo Brandes at mid-on, it seemed that he was carrying the good form of Hove, where he had crafted a 97. But Ganguly’s stay was cut short as Neil Johnson dismissed him in the second over. Though India had put up 56 by the end of the ninth over, they had lost the key wickets of Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and skipper Azharuddin.
Ramesh hung on and along with Ajay Jadeja stitched a 99-run stand, which seemed good enough for India to seal it. Ramesh fell and few runs later Jadeja and Ajit Agarkar also lost their wickets. Mongia, India’s star behind the stumps, showed some grit; and when he fell, India needed 34 from 31 with three wickets in hand.
Robin Singh was going strong and with good support from Javagal Srinath, the equation was eased to nine required from two overs. Olonga had given away 17 from his previous three, and here he was bowling the penultimate over. Robin picked him for two in the first ball, and then while looking to drive one, found captain Campbell at cover.
Seven needed from 10 balls now and two wickets in hand. Anil Kumble got a single and then Srinath got a two due to an overthrow. Kumble and Srinath, in the past, had bailed India out together with the bat. India were a boundary away from win and that is what Srinath attempted. In a moment of madness, he heaved his bat to straight one from Olonga, losing his stumps.
All Venkatesh Prasad had to do was fend off the last ball and leave it for the better batsman Kumble, but he was wrapped on the pads and Peter Willey’s dreaded finger went up.
Here’s the moment of madness:
First the Tendulkar tragedy and now a three-run defeat in hands of Zimbabwe. May 19, 1999, will be remembered as one of the darkest days of Indian cricket. One of the top contenders of the event had now lost two in a row; while Zimbabwe, who were not expected to qualify for the next round, had two wins in their kitty.
India did qualify for Super Six, along with Zimbabwe, but could not take bonus points with them and that hurt them bad there.
Brief Scores:
Zimbabwe 252 for 9 in 50 overs [Grant Flower 45 (89), Andy Flower 68 (85)*; JavagalSrinath 10-1-35-2, Venkatesh Prasad 10-1-37-2, Anil Kumble 10-0-41-2] btIndia 249 in 45 overs [S Ramesh 55 (77), Ajay Jadeja 43 (76); Heath Streak 9-0-36-3, Henry Olonga 4-0-22-3] by three runs.
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer, strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)
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