WEST INDIES v. AUSTRALIA

For years the pitch at Bourda had been slow and lifeless and in an attempt to bring some more pace into it, it had been relaid since the previous year, but because it had not had time to settle down it had been behaving unpredictably. West Indies won the toss for the first time in the series and that alone gave them a good chance of levelling the series. It was obvious from the start that the ball was going to come through increasingly at uneven heights and a big first innings total would probably be conclusive.

West Indies were given a sound start by Fredericks and Greenidge who while scoring 55 in eighty-three minutes had weathered some fine new ball bowling by Walker and Hammond. Then, in one over, Walters, who had hardly bowled during the tour, dismissed them both, and soon afterwards Kallicharran ran himself out by half the length of the pitch. So, Lloyd and Kanhai had to rebuild the innings and they did so with great patience. Since becoming captain of the West Indies, Kanhai had disciplined his batting well, but Lloyd now played an innings of immense value for his side which was completely out of character. It did not contain the power or the variety of stroke that is common to his batting and it was not very convincing in that he was never wholly at ease and yet he stuck to his task and reached his hundred in three hours.

He and Kanhai put on 187 in three and three-quarter hours, Kanhai batting that time for 57. The middle order then collapsed to Walker and Hammond, but Lloyd went on resolutely, taking his side to a sizeable total. He drove at Hammond and was yorked when he had batted for five and three-quarter hours and had hit one 6 and twenty-four 4's. Walters took the last three wickets and finished with the excellent figures of five for 66.

Australia made a bad start, losing both their openers for only 36, but once again the two Chappells steadied the innings with another marvellous display of batting on a wicket which was not getting any easier. They added 121 in three and a half hours before Greg was bowled by Willett's ball that goes with the arm. Ian went on to score 109 in just over five hours and then a superb innings by Walters, whose footwork against the spinners was a joy to watch, took Australia to within 25 of the West Indies score. The Australians had batted supremely well, but at the same time the West Indies bowlers had not made full use of the wicket.

West Indies began the fourth day needing enough runs to make Australia struggle on the last day. Considering the pitch, 250 would have been enough, but they began as if only 400 would do and proceeded to get themselves out in quick succession. One after another they played reckless strokes and paid the penalty. Only Kanhai was unlucky, for he was leg before to a shooter from Walker which would have dismissed any batsman in the world.

Hammond took the first four wickets to fall in a fine spell of outswing bowling while Walker and Walters shared the other six. West Indies began the day at 3 for no wicket and an hour after lunch they were all out for 109. This left Australia to score 135 to win and with the West Indies utterly demoralised by their batting failure, Stackpole and Redpath knocked off the runs with almost a day to spare.