†INDIA v WEST INDIES 1987-88

At Gauhati, December 23. West Indies won by 52 runs. Because of the early fall of darkness in the region, the match was shortened to 45 overs a side. West Indies, without Greenidge, who was indisposed, brought in Simmons, while the Indians made no fewer than three changes. Amarnath, Azharuddin and Prabhakar replaced Arun Lal, Pandit and Chetan Sharma. A slow pitch, tailor-made for India, restricted West Indies strokeplay, but then India themselves made heavy weather of batting on it and collapsed as they sought to accelerate following a partnership of 58 between Amarnath and Vengsarkar. Kapil Dev batted bravely for 22 off 29 balls but ran out of partners. For West Indies, Simmons, Richards (52 balls) and Logie rose above the limitations imposed by the pitch to keep the score moving without resort to extravagant strokes.

Man of the Match: I. V. A. Richards.