Andrew Capel picks six memorable one-day internationals at Adelaide Oval
IT started with a bang 43 years ago. And as Australia prepares to play South Africa in a day-night encounter on Friday, Andrew Capel recalls six of the most memorable one-day matches involving the Aussies at Adelaide Oval.
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IT started with a bang 43 years ago.
One-day international cricket at world famous Adelaide Oval — arguably the most picturesque major sporting venue in the world — began in December, 1975, with Australia gaining revenge for a thrilling World Cup loss to the West Indies six months earlier.
The Aussies — at the peak of their powers under captain Ian Chappell — beat the Calypso Kings with the South Australian legend earning man-of-the-match honours.
Since then, 83 one-day internationals have been staged at the spectacular, revamped ground.
As Australia prepares to play South Africa in a day-night encounter on Friday, ANDREW CAPEL recalls six of the most memorable one-day matches involving Australia at the Oval.
AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES
December 20, 1975
Australia 5/225 d West Indies 224.
The first one-day international at Adelaide Oval was a 40-overs-a-side clash and featured a host of legendary names. Australia, which was hosting 1975 World Cup winner the West Indies in a five-match Test series, was led by greats Ian and Greg Chappell, Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee. A young West Indian outfit, which was on the verge of becoming the dominant force in world cricket, featured Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Gordon Greenidge and Andy Roberts. Only Richards, aged 23, really fired with the bat after Ian Chappell won the toss and decided to bowl. Richards made 74 from 87 balls (seven fours, one six), with Greenidge making 41 and Alvin Kallicharran 37 as the Windies were bowled out in the 38th over for 224. Max Walker did most of the damage with the ball with 4/19 from 6.6 eight-ball overs. Australia cruised to a five-wicket victory in the 32nd over after the Chappell brothers both made fifties. After opener Alan Turner thumped eight boundaries in his 46 from 50 deliveries, Ian Chappell (63) and Greg Chappell (59) carried their team to an easy win. The Australian captain was named man of the match.
AUSTRALIA v PAKISTAN
January 30, 1984
Australia 8/210 d Pakistan 140
Queensland quick Carl Rackemann produced the best one-day international figures at Adelaide Oval when he ripped through the Pakistan batting line-up, taking 5/16 off 8.2 overs. After Australia won the toss and batted and fought its way to a modest 8/210 following a patient 70-run opening stand between Kepler Wessels (61 from 96 balls) and Steve Smith (36 off 81) and a quickfire, unbeaten 40 from Dean Jones off 33 deliveries, the home side turned the ball over to Rackemann. After a strong 56-run opening stand between Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad (34) and Mansoor Akhtar (22), Rackemann changed the game by taking three wickets in the blink of an eye — Miandad, Qasim Umar (2) and Mudassar Nazar (1) — to put the home side on top. He then ran through the tail as Pakistan was bowled out for just 140, losing 10 wickets for 84. Rackemann is one of 13 bowlers to take five wickets in an innings in a one-day international at The Oval.
AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES
January 27, 1985
West Indies 4/201 d Australia 9/200
Graeme Wood became the first Australian to make a hundred in a one-day international at Adelaide Oval when he made more than half of the home side’s score. The Western Australian left-hander incredibly batted through the innings against the mighty Windies bowling attack, making an unbeaten 104 of Australia’s 9/200 off 50 overs. Wood’s brave 104 came off 142 balls as he was given little support against a high quality pace attack that included man-of-the-match Joel Garner (3/17), Malcolm Marshall (2/35), Michael Holding and Winston Davis. Croweater Wayne Phillips was Australia’s second top rungetter at his home ground with 36 as seven batsmen failed to reach double figures. The West Indies made light work of the run chase, losing just four wickets and chasing down the modest target with 38 balls left. Viv Richards topscored with 51 with good support from captain Clive Lloyd (47 not out), Gordon Greenidge (39) and Richie Richardson (34).
AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND
December 7, 1997
Australia 7/263 d New Zealand 7/260
The first night cricket match at Adelaide Oval was played in front of a bumper crowd of 30,049 — the Oval’s biggest crowd in 11 years. The retractable lights — which beamed down amid the backdrop of a spectacular sunset — added great colour to a terrific match which Australia won by three wickets with just two balls to spare. The Kiwis made a super-competitive score of 7/260 following strong batting performances from Nathan Astle (66) and captain Stephen Fleming (61) while Shane Warne took three wickets for the Aussies. The home side appeared to be coasting to victory when Mark Waugh (104) and Michael Di Venuto (77) put on 156 for the first wicket. But a series of quick wickets brought bowler Andy Bichel to the crease with three balls remaining and two runs needed for victory. He edged the first ball he faced for a boundary through slips off chief destroyer Gavin Larsen (3/56) to give his side victory.
AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND
January 26, 2014
Australia 9/217 d England 212
Australia moved back to No. 1 in the ICC One-Day International rankings with a thrilling five-run win on Australia Day against England, which gave it a 4-1 series victory. The home side snatched the final match of the series from the jaws of defeat after struggling to 9/217 from its 50 overs. Australia recovered from 4/64 to make a competitive score, with George Bailey (56) and Shaun Marsh (36) top scoring and getting some late support from wicketkeeper Matthew Wade (31) and big-hitting all-rounder James Faulkner (27) after Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes had both claimed three wickets with the ball. England looked to be cruising in its run chase when it strolled to 3/154 in the 36th over, needing just 64 with seven wickets and 14 overs left. But left-arm medium-pace Faulkner removed Eoin Morgan (39) and Joe Root (55) in quick succession and the run chase went pear-shaped. Shane Watson clinched the final wicket with the third-last ball when James Tredwell swung hard outside the off stump and edged behind to Wade for a duck. Faulker (2/27) was named man of the match.
“It was an incredible game of cricket. For that to happen on Australia Day was unbelievable,” Faulkner said.
AUSTRALIA v PAKISTAN
January 26, 2017
Australia 7/369 d Pakistan 312
The Aussies celebrated Australia Day in style with opening batsmen David Warner and local boy Travis Head rewriting the record books. They gave the Adelaide crowd plenty of reason to party, compiling the highest one-day international partnership for Australia. The pair put on a remarkable 284 for the first wicket, with Warner — dropped first ball by Azhar Ali at second slip — smashing a spectacular 179 (19 fours, five sixes) from just 128 balls and Head making 128 (nine boundaries, three sixes) from 137 deliveries. The crowd-pleasing partnership, which was ended in the 42nd over, broke the previous Australian record of 260 between Warner and Steve Smith against Afghanistan in the 2015 World Cup. It was Redbacks captain Head's first one-day international century. Australia finished with a massive 7/369, leaving Pakistan with the unenviable task of having to produce the third-highest successful chase in ODI history to haul in the total. It batted well to make an impressive 312, with Babar Azam making 100 and Sharjeel Khan 79, but fell 57 runs short. Speed demon Mitch Starc captured 4/42 for the Aussies, who won the series 4-1. “It’s nice to get some runs,” Head said of his breakthrough hundred. “It’s just a fantastic moment, I have a lot of friends and family here.’’
