On 31st May, 1984 Viv Richards produced one of the best One Day Innings ever. It was the first match of the Texaco Trophy between England and West Indies at Old Trafford. This was an astonishing innings keeping in mind the position West Indies were in.
Opting to bat, West Indies had a poor start with Desmond Haynes getting run out and Gordon Greenidge getting caught by David Bairstow of Ian Botham. The score was just 11 by then and the second wicket brought the master Richards on the crease. Richards batted from one end when others were gone one after one. Richie Richardson scored six, Larry Gomes four, captain Clive Lloyd eight, Jeff Dujon zero and Malcolm Marshall four. With Marshall’s wicket, England were on top as West Indies were 102 for 7 looking down the barrel. Richards was their only hope to take this score to a respectable one.
This is when Richards decided to play his greatest innings. No English bowlers were spared and the balls were sent to every corner of the ground. He and Eldine Baptiste added 59 as Baptiste became the second batsman of the innings to reach the double figure. West Indies lost their 9th wicket on 166 when Michael Holding came to bat as the last batsman. By that time, Richards had taken control and kept hitting some of the most audacious shots without bothering about being in the last wicket partnership. Richards and Holding added 106 for the unbeaten 10th wicket partnership and Holding scored 12 of those. Richards ended with the then highest score of 189 not out.
After that extraordinary hitting, England could not recover and were all out for just 168 runs. Joel garner took three wickets. Richards was not done while batting as he came back to bowl 11 overs for two wickets.
