Catches Win Matches
In sport you hear many catch phrases with some being true, some being not so true, some being untrue and others being bordering on bizarre.
BUT
Ask any of the billion great Indian Cricket crazy citizens if this catch phrase is true:
‘CATCHES WIN MATCHES…‘
You’ll probably think how one catch can have such meaning to a billion people…
Well this one did and in truth instigated a victory that was arguably and more than probably India’s finest moment in Cricket.
It was the Final of the World Cup at Lords in England against a West Indies team. That was expected to win the Final blindfolded and with one foot in the air. This became even surer after on the back of the brutal West Indies bowling attack. The Indian’s were dismissed for a paltry 183.
In the chase, the West Indies with their star studded batting line up were expected to get the runs with little or no fuss. Even after the early loss of Gordon Greenidge. The man regarded as far and away the best batsman at the time in the ‘Master Blaster’ Viv Richards was duly dispatching the Indian’s to all parts of the compass.
Then the moment where the Billion Indian’s, truly knew the meaning of that catch phrase.
Richards who had belted 7 boundaries in his 28 ball 33 goes for a hook shot off Madan Lal’s medium pace…
Everyone was just expecting the ball to be deposited into the appreciative crowd…
Though he edges it and it flies up in the air just outside the infield and just short of the outfield…
Truly in no man’s land…
You could hear the Crowd hush and in your mind’s eye, you could imagine the billion Indian’s offering prayers for someone to catch it…
Pleading please catch it…
Exalting…
CATCH IT!
Kapil Dev, who was the Indian everything man on a cricket field, runs out with the ball floating perilously over his head… Everyone who was watching knew that he was the only fielder who could catch it… but could he indeed catch it and get rid of the man. Who more than likely would ensure the Cup for the West Indies in Richards…
At full stretch and full stride he reaches out and the ball lobs in his hands…
He catches it and you could hear the stadium rock from the exultant cheers from all the people of India
After Richards is gone the game flips like a coin and destiny is India’s guardian seeing them through to a truly memorable victory…
Ask any Indian who witnessed this match what the catch phrase ‘Catches Wins Matches‘.
In fact, it’s Cricket World Cup’s Greatest Moments.
TRULY MEANS!
Tags: Catches Win Matches, Cricket, Cricket World Cup, India, Indian Cricket, Indians, Kapil Dev, Lords, Viv Richards, West Indies
