OTD 1986: The cheapest five-wicket haul in international history
Courtney Walsh was one of the best bowlers to have played for West Indies and was also one of the finest in world cricket. He along with Curtly Ambrose formed a great bowling pair and pulverized the world-class batters in the 80s and 90s.
Walsh was known for being a deadly bowler on bouncy and green top wickets. Meanwhile, it was on this very day in 1986 that the tall speedster went on to register the cheapest fifer in the history of international cricket.
When Courtney Walsh registered a unique bowling world record
West Indies faced Sri Lanka in the fifth match of the Champions Trophy at Sharjah. Courtney Walsh was yet to attain fame and fortune as a fast bowler back then, but it was after this match that he went on to become a big star in world cricket.
What really was more interesting was that Walsh was used as a fifth bowler in that match. Nonetheless, the tall pacer proved that he was no pushover as he breathed fire with the ball in hand and left Sri Lanka in shambles.
The Jamaica cricketer cleaned up the opposition’s batting line-up and ended up conceding just one run from his 4.3 overs at an outstanding economy rate of 0.22 as he finished with a fifer.
Within the blink of an eye, the Lankans were skittled out for only 55 runs in the 29th over chasing 249 as the two-time world champions went on to register a comprehensive 193-run victory. Courtney Walsh was not only named the Man of the Match for his brilliant fifer but also was adjudged the Player of the Series for taking 10 wickets in the competition.
Walsh’s scalps in this contest included the likes of skipper Duleep Mendis, Ashantha de Mel, Ravi Ratnayeke, Rumesh Ratnayeke, and, Graeme Labrooy.
This was one of the splendid bowling performances that deservingly earned Courtney Walsh a place in the list of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1987. He grew from strength-to-strength from thereon and finished his illustrious international career with 519 and 227 wickets in Tests and One Day Internationals.
Apart from all these, the Jamaican speedster also bagged 1807 and 551 scalps in first-class and List A career.
