Cricket has become more captivating to watch with the introduction of the T20 format, but fans of 90s cricket would contend that their era was even more thrilling due to its sheer class and talent. One individual who consistently captured the spirit and excitement of cricket enthusiasts was the Trinidadian prince, Brian Lara.
Brian is primarily recognized for his achievements in test matches, but few are aware that in the early stages of his career, when he opened the innings in ODIs, he played aggressively and mercilessly dispatched bowlers all over the field.
Let’s remember one of Brian Lara’s match-winning performances, which he delivered in the Pepsi Champions Trophy final against Pakistan at Sharjah on November 5, 1993.
Struggled during the league matches
Brian was receiving opportunities to play in the league matches of the tournament against Pakistani and Sri Lankan bowlers, but he failed to make the most of them. He had been overdue for a significant performance, and the pressure was increasing on him since he entered the competition following an impressive score of 277 against Australia at SCG in January 1993. Consequently, everyone anticipated something extraordinary from him, as he was regarded as one of the best young talents in cricket alongside Sachin Tendulkar.
Basit Ali Carnage helped Pak to put huge total on the board
After West Indies chose to bowl, Pakistan had a shaky and slow start but managed to recover thanks to Salim Malik and Inzamam ul Haq. However, their partnership did not thrive, leading many to believe that Pakistan would struggle to post a significant total. That changed dramatically when Basit Ali, the robust Pakistani batsman, turned the match around by scoring 127 runs off just 79 balls against legendary bowlers like Ambrose and Walsh. He reached his century in only 67 balls, setting a record for the fastest century at that time and helping Pakistan finish with a score of 284/4 after 50 overs.
Stage was set For Lara magic
The stage was set for young Lara to silence his critics regarding his batting at the top of the order. He started off with confidence, even though he lost his opening batting partner Desmond Haynes early on, and set the pace required to pursue a substantial target.
He skillfully executed cuts and pulls against fast bowlers such as Waqar Younis and Ata-ur-Rehman, while Wasim Akram was sidelined due to injury for the finals. Brian took full advantage of that absence with impressive ease. He received solid support from Phil Simmons, who also unleashed his batting against the bowlers, allowing Lara to play his own game.
Reached Hundred in No time
Brian played with ease against the Pakistani attack, as none of the bowlers seemed to pose a threat to him. The quality spinners, like Mushtaq Ahmed, were also hit all around the Sharjahcricket ground. In no time at all, Lara reached his century off just 96 balls, hitting 14 fours and no sixes. This is one of the remarkable qualities of young Lara; he rarely lifted the ball into the air—everything he struck was along the ground, which significantly reduced his chances of getting out.
Batted till his team almost reached home
Brian finally scored 153 runs off just 143 balls, hitting 21 fours before he was dismissed. By that point, the West Indies were nearly victorious with plenty of overs remaining. Lara’s performance in the match was so dominant that he accounted for 53 percent of his team’s total runs, which is truly impressive. At that time, achieving a century was significant, but scoring 150 on one’s own is exceptionally praiseworthy—a feat only a great talent like Lara could accomplish back then.
Who’s innings was best Brain Lara or Basit Ali
After the match, there was a debate about which innings was superior: Basit Ali’s or Brian Lara’s.
Experts hold varying opinions on this matter, and that’s perfectly acceptable given the need to compare two extraordinary performances.
However, it can be argued that Basit’s innings showcased more brute strength, whereas Brian’s innings emphasized impeccable timing and consistently finding gaps in the field. Additionally, since Brian’s performance contributed to his team’s victory, we can consider his innings as the best of that specific match.
