3rd December 1986: Courtney Walsh Destroys Lanka with 5/1

Cricketnext Staff | Updated: December 3, 2018, 5:13 PM IST

On this day in 1986, the West Indian great Courtney Walsh annihilated the Sri Lankan batting line-up to finish with figures of 4.3-3-1-5, thereby helping West Indies win the ODI by a massive margin of 193 runs.

Electing to bowl first in the fifth match of the Champions Trophy which was a 45 overs-per-side contest in Sharjah, Sri Lanka failed to keep the Windies batsmen in check as they posted 248 for 5 with Sir Richie Richardson scoring a 120-ball 109.

In reply, Sri Lanka went from being 45 for 2 to be bowled out for a meagre 55 as Walsh bowled a spell of a lifetime conceding just a solitary run in his spell of 4.3 overs which included three maidens, of course.

Walsh’s figures - the cheapest five-wicket haul ever, meant Sri Lanka were shot out for their second lowest score in the history of the ODI cricket. Such was the difference between the two sides on the day that the lowest double digit score for the Windies was the highest score for Sri Lanka in their innings – 15.

It was truly a day to forget for the Islanders. It was no surprise that West Indies went onto win the Sharjah Champions Trophy as the team did boast of some of the best players in the game at that point in time.