World Cup 1983: Duncan Fletcher’s heroics and Zimbabwe’s first win over Australia

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Three years ago, they were also part of the Curie Cup, the first-class tournament in Rhodesia, South Africa. After independence they became Zimbabwe. John Trichos, an offspinner, played three Tests for South Africa against Australia, about 13 years ago. Many of that team in Zimbabwe were of ‘international standard’, but the camouflage of experience was zero. The third match of the third World Cup was Zimbabwe's first international match at Trentbridge, having won the ICC Trophy the previous year in the biggest tournament in cricket. The opponent is Australia. That match was a huge test of nerves for Zimbabwe. This is the mental state. They were also strangers on the playground. Before that match, the bet for Zimbabwe was 200 against 1. Zimbabwe is such a newcomer, Australia had no information about them. Jeff Thomson, Dennis Lilly have left their best time, but Geoff Lawson, Rodney Hogh is no less. There are big names like Alan Border, Kepler Wessels, Rod Marsh, Graham Yallop. Zimbabwe was tiny in front of Australia. Despite all this, June 9, 1983, has become one of the most beautiful days in the history of Zimbabwean cricket. By all accounts, the newest country in international cricket stunned a team that had been playing Test cricket for 106 years. That match between Australia and Zimbabwe has become one of the biggest mishaps in the World Cup. Duncan Fletcher showed an all-round show that day. England's national election was on that day. Margaret Thatcher is being re-elected, while England is playing another match on the same day. Zimbabwe's match against Australia was therefore not on the television screen. There are not many spectators on the field, the presence of Zimbabweans was even less - 20-25 people. However, the Zimbabwean flag and shouts kept the whole field intoxicated. In the dressing room, Zimbabwe was assisted by South Africa's Clive Rice , who was captain of Nottinghamshire at the time.

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Australia captain Kim Hughes won the toss and elected to bat. However, it was Zimbabwe who did it later. If they batted later, they were more likely to gobble up any goal given by Australia. However, the pressure of that nerve, is like batting, nowhere else in cricket is caught so terribly. Ali Shah and Grant Patterson, the two openers, came under the most pressure. The two are quite vocal, but how quiet they were before batting that day. The look of panic on his face. Going to the crease, however, not a trace of it was found. Lily-Thomson has since left the opening bowling space to Lawson-Hogg. Patterson glanced at Lawson's first ball and took a single from the fine leg. Shah completed the run in that over. Zimbabwe entered the match. Entered the international arena. At the end of the day that took shape in the arrival message. ‘Zimbabwe has arrived’! Whether he was excited or not, Patterson started talking to Lily. He received a threat of 'breaking his arm' after he hit Lily's elbow while taking a run. Although the service was silent, Patterson did not hesitate to reply to Lily next time. Who knows whether it is good or bad - who knows! In the end, Zimbabwe did not bat in the honeymoon, they lost a bunch of wickets. At first, two openers returned with two consecutive balls by Lily. Jack Heron and Dave Hutton then returned with two consecutive balls from Yallop. There was controversy over Hutton's dismissal. Marsh threw the ball into the air to celebrate the catch, which he could not take in the second half. The bowler's side umpire gave a not-out, but the square leg umpire raised a finger at the Australians' request. Hutton had to return despite his reluctance. Two bowlers stood in front of the hat-trick, two hat-trick balls were handled by Andy Pycroft. However, he did not stay long, he lost off stump in the big spin of the border. A while ago, Zimbabwe was without a wicket for 55 runs. Soon they went to the forest for 94 runs for 5 wickets. However, Duncan Fletcher, the captain of Zimbabwe, stood in front of Australia. He was the most experienced in this team except Tricos. But he also became 'incredibly nervous'. Repeatedly asking Pycroft how the wicket behaved.

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In this team, however, Fletcher was almost like a coach. It was great to build an almost amateur team. The next coach of Bagha could have found all the great ways to practice in his playing life as well. Brought a rugby trainer to increase fitness. According to Zimbabwean cricketers, the training was a little too much for them. So much so that they became fitter than the rugby players. Which was soon noticed during the fielding of Australia, Zimbabwe. Fletcher brought a baseball thrower to handle the pace, just throwing a 'beamer' would have been a bit of a hassle! Fletcher understood the situation of the match and was the best of all. He played a remarkable innings in the middle order. Not too big a shot, the run went out in front of the offensive fielding. His partnership with Kevin Karan for the 6th wicket came with 60 runs. Karan was also out controversially, claiming that David Hooks could not take the catch properly in the abuse. He did not want to come even though he was given out, Fletcher explained and sent. Fletcher added another 75 runs with Ian Bouchard for the next wicket, which was unbeaten. Fletcher unbeaten 84 off 69 balls. Zimbabwe 239 for 6 wickets. The story of Fletcher's strangely beautiful day does not end there.

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Wessels and Graeme Wood opened the innings with 61 runs for Australia. Fletcher broke the pair with his medium pace. Before that, of course, Zimbabwe suffered a blow. Fast bowler Vincent Hogg got injured in the back, he gave only 15 runs in 6 overs. Fletcher had planned to bowl 12 overs with him. Hogg warmed up just fine. However, the excitement of the match and the consequent attempt to bowl at an extra pace became a nightmare for him. However, the Zimbabweans were able to suppress that unwanted push. He was replaced by Gerald Peckover, one of the fastest on the cricket field. Six of Australia's opening seven batsmen were left-handed. Against them, the Zimbabweans opted for a tight line bowling technique with just a leg stump. They didn't give the Australians a chance to shoot, especially the Trichomes. He did not get any wicket by bowling 12 overs that day, but he gave only 26 runs. And in fielding they became superhuman. They received the award for practicing rugby hand-in-hand.

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Hutton took Wood's catch behind the wicket in the beginning. Shah took the catch by diving in front. After a while, the turn of the match turned into a run-out of Wessels. Wessels was playing slowly, but he kept Australia from slipping. Wessels did not want to take the run in the beginning but had to run under the pressure of the border. There was a stump in front of Heron at the strike-end. He aimed the ball and threw it towards her. Impenetrable goal- boom! But Yallop's wicket was also important. He also had a tendency to fly and flick, so Pycroft was sent to Deep. However, Pycroft moved a little too far. However, the catch has been even greater, jumping with one hand. Another great catch by Pycroft is the return of Border. However, until the last over, Zimbabwe could not get used to what was happening. How easy it is to digest Australia in their first international match! In the last over, they relied on Peter Rosen. Marsh hit a huge six, but could not take advantage against the rest of the balls in Rosen's blockhole. After the last ball of the 80th over, Marsh remained unbeaten on 50 off 42 balls. Australia was stopped for 226 for six. They needed 14 more runs to beat Zimbabwe.

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Zimbabwe stopped mighty Australia by 13 runs. If the statistics are negative, the chances of winning before the match may be the same. However, a Zimbabwean who won 100 pounds bet on that 'impossible' equation. Zimbabwean cricketers later received a royal 'treat' from him at the bar. Zimbabwe got the congratulations of the Australians that day, some came to the dressing room of Zimbabwe after the match. And Zimbabwe gave the message of arrival that day. June 9, 1983, has become one of the most beautiful days in the history of Zimbabwean cricket.