By the time the 100th Test Match at Lord’s took place, West Indies were no longer the formidable team of the 1980s.
But they still had Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose to share the new ball and a batting line-up boasting Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Jimmy Adams. When they lost the toss and finished day one on 267 for 9, the tourists probably felt quite pleased with their performance. No-one could have predicted what would happen on day two.
It began with Andrew Caddick finishing off the innings when he trapped Walsh lbw with the first ball of the day. Walsh and Ambrose then got to work, bowling England out for 134 in just 48.2 overs. Only Graeme Hick, Alec Stewart and Craig White passed 20. Walsh and Ambrose bagged four wickets each. West Indies had a lead of 133, and they were probably still confident when Caddick removed Sherwin Campbell and Wavell Hinds in his second over. That brought Brian Lara to the crease, but he only lasted half an hour before Caddick had him too. Unbelievably, West Indies crumbled to 54 all out in just over two hours. Ridley Jacobs top scored with 12 and Caddick boasted figures of 5 for 16. 21 wickets had fallen in the day, the most in a Test at Lord’s since 1888.
It wasn’t over yet. England had three days to chase 188 and they were going nicely on 119 for 2 until Hick and Michael Atherton both fell to Walsh in the space of three balls. 20 runs later it happened again, this time Stewart and White in the space of four balls. England were 140 for 6 and Walsh had bagged all six. Ambrose and Franklyn Rose chipped in – England were 160 for 8, with Dominic Cork and Darren Gough at the crease. “Think how famous we’ll be if we win this,” said Gough to Cork. Cork hit out, riding his luck with a chip over mid-off, and pulling a six into the Tavern Stand. England edged closer, Adams brought his fielders in. Then Walsh bowled one just short of a length on off-stump, Cork rocked back and caressed it to the cover boundary. England were home by two wickets in a famous victory.