'Ivan' made them do it -- Posted by Liam on Tuesday, September 21 2004
Where were you when the West Indies beat South Africa by 5 wickets on that English Sunday, the 19th of September? Me, I was sitting in my living room torn between getting prepared for church and watching the finale of the scintillating contest. Yes, you'd say that it's a trivial result to demand such a question. After all, it was only a One Day International. However, a man voiced in the art of pedantry would respond when accused of it, "it's the principle". On this occasion, I feel the same.

Indeed, it's not that the West Indies won a rare international game, but it's the way they won it. Rains meant that they would have to play over two days and history has shown that this West Indies team can be outstanding on one day and below Test level the next. Still, they won it and were outstanding on both. So often the bowlers have been knocked down in a game situation and just contiue to spiral downward. This time they fought back from 104/0 after 21 overs to limit their opponents to 246/6 in 50. Graeme Smith said then that it was 10-20 runs short and Brian Lara's men replied 'Yuh damn right!'

There is no doubt in my mind where the inspiration was fetched from in this wonderful display. Earlier in the week captain Brian Lara stated that the hope was the West Indies would be able to perform at a level that they would bring some joy back into the Caribbean, a region devastated by hurricane Ivan. Well, the boys certainly played like that was the case! The television commentators stated that the West Indians looked desperate to win. If a national disaster is what it takes to bring that urgency to their games, it's sad, but so be it.

Yes, the bowlers did their job with heart and surprising discipline whilst the fielders supported efficiently. Not a noball in 50 overs of cricket and just 6 extras in total. When time came to score runs, Sarwan and Lara didn't look too far at ease for the most part, but they knew that wickets in hand was the key. Smart cricket. With the earlier conservation, Chanders and Pow-Pow were enabled some freedom at the end and scored a comfortable win.

It has been a difficult year of West Indies cricket. The region's ambassadors have put down 7 of 10 Tests, winnings just 1 in the process. The year and season may be coming to a close, but it is never too late for some West Indian success. As a region, the wait has been far too long in between for the national team to achieve any measure of success.

On that Sunday morning, the Caribbean people were allowed to wipe away the tears of hurricane Ivan and wave their flags for 'we boys'. They may not make it past the semi-finals, or they may win it all. Regardless, the West Indies can consider it a job well-done so far, for they've given this region a reason to smile again, if only for that one English afternoon.