India and the West Indies have an eloquent history of cricketing encounters against each other, and the "Utsav Zone" celebrates just that. Moments of glory, performances to cherish, matches to remember for a lifetime - we pick them out from the 70 Tests and 66 one-dayers these two teams have fought over. Packaged together, the "Utsav Zone" presents you genuine cause to celebrate the sport's rich and hoary past.

Lords of the ring

© CricInfo

The Indians don’t sing cricketing calypsos like the West Indians do. However, in their own boisterously passionate way, they celebrate the feat that 11 of their finest accomplished on a glorious day at Lord’s almost 19 summers ago.

On that exalted day - June 25, 1983 - Kapil’s Devils rocked the rather stodgy headquarters of cricket that was hosting a World Cup final for the third time in succession.

The Indians were up against a mighty Carribean team, two-time defending champions who, despite suffering a loss at the hands of their opponents in the league stages, started as overwhelming favourites. But as in the famed biblical tale that has jauntily withstood many a telling, the contest was to end with the Davids of the cricketing world slaying the Goliaths.

On a bright, sunny day, Lloyd put the Indians in. The pitch was lively, one that would have been viewed with relish by the mighty West Indian fast bowling quartet of Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding. The big men took up their duties with a keenness and cheer that must have sent shivers down the spine of the Indians.

Almost immediately, a wicket had fallen - master opener Sunil Gavaskar trudging back to the pavilion in just the third over after making two.

Mohinder Amarnath, who replaced him was one man who could be relied upon. The year had seen him become the fastest to a 1,000 runs in Test cricket. In the company of Krish Srikkanth, Amarnath set about laying a platform for his team.

Srikkanth hooked, pulled and drove boundaries, while Amarnath explored the gaps in the field. The duo added 57 runs before Srikkanth fell for a typically cavalier 38 off 57 balls. Though they did not know it at that stage, Srikkanth’s was to prove the highest score of the day, and their partnership the highest of the match.

After Srikkanth’s departure, Amarnath involved himself in a stand of 31 with Yashpal Sharma (11). But with the score on 90, Amarnath too was dismissed after contributing a composed 26. The Indian innings rapidly disintegrated from there. Only Sandeep Patil, with a rapid 27 off 29, offered any resistance as India folded up for just 183 in 54.4 overs.

With as many as 60 overs for the West Indians to reach the target, the spectators braced themselves for yet another mundane afternoon. But their blasé attitude gave way to quiet excitement when Gordon Greenidge shouldered arms to a Balwinder Singh Sandhu in-cutter, pitching well outside the off-stump, only to stumble upon the discovery that he had been indubitably bowled.

The sight of Viv Richards languorously strolling in, the familiar bubble-gum in place, meant that it was a fleeting shock. Once at the crease, the master blaster was a man in a tearing hurry. His ferocious attack threatened to blow the Indian attack to smithereens.

The dismissal of Desmond Haynes, Richards' partner in a 45-run second-wicket stand, came at an opportune moment, offering India a sliver of hope. And then came the defining moment of the match.

With the West Indies' score on 57, Richards (33 off 28 balls) mistimed a hook. His powerful shoulders carried the ball closer and closer to the mid-wicket boundary. Under it was Kapil Dev, running in hot pursuit with the knowledge that he couldn’t afford to drop the catch when it arrived. With a tenacity that makes for a world conqueror, the Indian captain hung on to the ball after it finally descended. The great rival had been felled.

Soon the West Indies were 76 for six, the odds now swinging increasingly towards the Indians. There was to be a last heroic effort from the West Indies wicket-keeper Jeff Dujon and Malcolm Marshall, who put on 43 runs for the seventh wicket with a welcome display of common-sense batting.

Amarnath’s dismissal of Dujon, though, proved the last nail in the West Indian coffin. After two more West Indian wickets fell, it was Amarnath, later to be named Man of Match, who appropriately sealed his team’s 43-run win by catching last man Holding plumb in front for six. Finally it was time for the champagne to flow.

© CricInfo

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