Top 5 Embarrassing Defeats for West Indies in ODIs

The winners of the first two World Cup tournaments were once the greatest cricket team in the world and for around two decades, West Indies remained the most dominant side in world cricket. However, their decline as a force in international cricket over the past decade and a half has been equally as dramatic. Despite all that, the West Indies remain one of the world’s most important cricket teams and especially so in ODI cricket.

Like any other cricket team, they have suffered humiliating defeats in ODI cricket as well and some of them were even suffered by those legendary teams of the 1980s and early 1990s. However, for a team with the sort of pedigree and history of the West Indies, the recounting of these defeats always make for interesting reading for any cricket fan. So, here is a look at 5 of the most forgettable defeats that the West Indies suffered in their ODI history.

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#5 102 run loss to India in Hero Cup Final at Kolkata, 1993

Back in the 1990s, the West Indies had a formidable team at their disposal and when they went head to head against hosts in India at the Eden Gardens in the Hero Cup final, they started as the favorites. Led by the brilliant Curtly Ambrose, the West Indian pace attack did not let India get away and kept things under control. It was only because of Vinod Kambli’s steady 68, along with contributions from the middle-order (no one else scored a fifty) that India made 225 for 7 in their fifty overs.

The West Indies were definitely the favorites at the break and even though lost Phil Simmons early on, Brain Lara and captain Richie Richardson strung together a promising partnership. However, their downfall started once Tendulkar sent Lara’s off stump for a walk and then Anil Kumble completely destroyed the rest of the batting line-up. Kumble picked up 6 for 12 in 6.1 overs and West Indies went from 57 for 1 to 123 all out to crash to an embarrassing 102 run defeat.

#4 209 run loss to South Africa at Cape Town, 2004

This was one of the heaviest defeats ever suffered by the West Indies and after watching South Africa make merry in the first innings, no one could have predicted the West Indian collapse in the 2nd. Having chosen to bat first, South Africa played solidly and put up a score of 263 for 4, which was powered by an unbeaten 109 from legendary all-rounder Jacques Kallis.

Considering the fact that the West Indies had the likes of Brian Lara, Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan in their line-up, they definitely had the wherewithal to chase down the target. However, South Africa’s fast bowlers led by Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel and Makhaya Ntini completely steamrolled their batsmen. The first wicket (Gayle) went down in the 5th over with the score on 10 and from then on it was a precession. Wickets kept tumbling and they were eventually all out for 54 in 23.2 overs. This particular loss remains one of the most infamous in West Indies’ history.

#3 97 run loss to Pakistan in CB Series at Melbourne, 1984

The West Indies were irresistible in the 1980s and were prone to blow teams away quite regularly. However, one team that always seemed to hold their own against them was Pakistan and back in 1984, they handed the best team in the world at the time a resounding defeat. In the 3rd match of the tri-series at Melbourne back in 1984, Pakistan batted first against a West Indian bowling attack fronted by Michael Holding, Joel Garner, and Malcolm Marshall. They had been reduced to 87 for 4 but a gutsy 69 (78 balls) from Qasim Umar helped them in making 208 for 8 in 50 overs.

It was a paltry score and there must have been no doubt that the outstanding West Indian batting line-up would make short work of it. Pakistan’s attack of Sarfraz Nawaz, Rashid Khan and left-arm pace Azeem Hafeez, however, proved up to the task against the likes of Desmond Haynes, Viv Richards, and Clive Lloyd. The West Indian top order was blown away as they were reduced to an embarrassing 10 for 4 and they were pretty much out of the game. The innings folded for 111 all out in the 42nd over and ended up being one of the most humbling reverses that was suffered by the great side.

#2 43 run loss to India in World Cup Final at Lord’s, 1983

This result is still regarded as the biggest upset ever in a World Cup final game and is one of the most embarrassing defeats suffered by the West Indies in their ODI history. The West Indies were the best team in the world and were vying to win their third consecutive World Cup when they came up against India in the final of the 1983 event at Lord’s. India’s team was made up of bits and pieces cricketers and were priced at 66-1 ahead of the tournament. So, it is fair to say, no one quite gave India a chance and even less so after they were all out for 183 after having been put in to bat first. The West Indian pace attack of Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Michael Holding and Malcolm Marshall was too much for them.

However, it was the grass on the pitch that worked to India’s advantage. India took the wicket of Gordon Greenidge early but then Viv Richards launched into a fearsome assault and hit 7 fours in his 33 runs, before mistiming a pull shot. Captain Kapil Dev took a brilliant catch but no one quite thought that the West Indies were going to collapse. But collapse they did and in spectacular fashion against a bowling attack, which was not particularly known for being too dangerous. From 57 for 2, West Indies were all out for 140 and failed to win their 3rd World Cup in a row.

#1 73 runs loss to Kenya in World Cup group game at Pune, 1996

West Indies have suffered plenty of humiliating losses in ODIs over the past two and a half decades but nothing quite comes close to their capitulation against Kenya back in 1996. The West Indies were expected to steamroll their lowly opponents and it seemed that things were going according to plan when their fast bowlers flattened the Kenyans. Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Ian Bishop and Cameron Cuffy combined brilliantly to dismiss Kenya for only 166 in the 50th over.

It was supposed to be a cakewalk for West Indies and it seemed to be the case when the openers had added 18 runs without many alarms. However, the pitch had worn off and stroke play became increasingly difficult. The opener Sherwin Campbell was 1st to go and then captain Richie Richardson went as well. Before long, they had been reduced to 35 for 4 and without the presence of Brian Lara; it became an impossible task for the West Indies. Martin Suji and Rajab Ali bowled brilliantly up front and then Maurice Odumbe’s right arm off-spin proved very difficult. No one could put up any fight and West Indies were all out for a shocking score of 93. Kenya had recorded a famous victory but for the West Indies, it was the most embarrassing defeat in their ODI history.