What separates the good batsmen from the best is that the latter can put even the mighty opponent to the sword and practically, on any given day.
Which is precisely what a man named Brian Charles Lara did on this very date versus the daunting Proteas twenty eight years back in the day.
When Brian Lara used to set his mind to something, it usually became a cozy reality for the West Indies fan but also an evidence of great suffering beyond imagination for his opponents.
The Trinidadian Prince achieved numerous remarkable feats on the cricket field throughout his illustrious career, one of which was his exceptional innings of 111 runs from just 94 deliveries against the formidable Proteas during the 3rd Quarter Final of the 1996 Wills World Cup in Karachi.
Backdrop Before the Quarter Final Match
In 1996, a leap year, the West Indies faced a surprising defeat by Kenya on February 29th in a World Cup match held in Pune. This unexpected loss caused an uproar in the Caribbean media, leading to harsh criticism of the team. Subsequently, there were demands for Brian Lara to be removed from the team due to allegations that he had made controversial remarks about losing to Kenya compared to a white team like South Africa. Lara defended himself by stating that his comments had been misunderstood.
Prince found some form against the Aussies at Jaipur
After a demoralizing loss to the Kenyan team, Brian faced immense pressure. Stepping out to bat against the formidable Australians in Jaipur, his team was chasing a modest total but found themselves in a challenging position at 26 for 2. Demonstrating true greatness, Brian rose to the occasion with an aggressive innings of 60 runs off 70 deliveries. Despite getting caught out while attempting a slog sweep, his performance had already propelled his team to dominance in the match.
Confident Lara before the Knock out match
Just prior to the knockout match in the quarterfinals against the formidable South African Team, who had remained undefeated in the tournament until facing off against West Indies, Lara conveyed to Bob Woolmer, the South African Coach and also Lara’s coach during their time together at Warwickshire county, during a practice session before the game: “Apologies, coach. Today is my day, and I am determined to secure this victory for my country.”
Stage was set for King Lara
On a slow, cracked Karachi pitch, West Indies Captain Richie Richardson won the toss and wisely chose to bat first. The opening pair of Chanderpaul and Courtney Browne got off to an exciting start for their team, scoring 42 runs in just 6 overs. However, Browne was dismissed soon after, bringing Brian Lara to the crease. Lara initially played cautiously but then grew in confidence as he took charge against medium pacer Hansie Cronje and unorthodox spinner Paul Adams.
Lara toyed with Proteas‘ attack
On a slow Karachi pitch, the South African team made a significant error by leaving out their main bowler, Allan Donald. Instead, they opted for an additional spinner, Paul Adams. The Trinidadian player excelled in spin bowling and completely controlled the attack.
Five out of Lara’s 16 boundaries were hit in a single over by Symcox, during which he scored 22 runs. What made these shots remarkable was that Lara strategically placed them in areas where the opposing captain had just adjusted the field after each previous shot. This display of skill truly showcased Lara’s genius.
South Africa buckled under Pressure
Lara completed his innings with a score of 111 off 94 balls, including 16 boundaries. His contribution helped his team reach a total of 264/8 on the scoreboard. The South Africans, who seemed to be cruising towards victory at one point with a score of 196/4, faltered against spinners Jimmy Adams and Roger Harper. They were eventually bowled out for 245, losing their last six wickets for just 49 runs. As a result, they conceded victory to the Caribbean team by a margin of 19 runs.
Lara was the difference
Proteas’ captain Hansie Cronje and his team showed grace in defeat by acknowledging the brilliance of Lara’s breathtaking stroke-play. They accepted the fact that they had done nothing wrong, recognizing that it was Lara’s sheer brilliance that outplayed them in the crucial match.
