Mutthiah Muralitharan 5 for 34 vs West Indies Ist Test at St John's 1997

Mr. Devotor

Step back in time to relive the wizardry of Muttiah Muralitharan as he weaved a magical spell against the West Indies in the 1st Test at St John's, 1997. The Sri Lankan spin legend delivered an unforgettable performance, claiming 5 wickets for just 34 runs in 23.4 overs with 5 maidens — a masterclass in accuracy, turn, and control.  His victims included big names like Carl Hooper, Courtney Browne, Ian Bishop, Franklyn Rose, and Courtney Walsh, as Sri Lanka bowled out the Windies for just 189 runs. Though the West Indies bounced back in the second innings to win the Test, Muralitharan’s brilliance stood tall.  📺 Watch every moment of this iconic spell and witness the genius of one of the greatest spinners the game has ever seen.  #Muralitharan #SriLankaCricket #TestCricket #5wickets #CricketLegends #WestIndiesCricket #SpinBowling #CricketHighlights #MuttiahMuralitharan #StJohns1997 #ClassicCricket #SLvsWI

Transcript

00:00In the rich tapestry of test cricket, few names evoke as much awe and reverence as Mudhaya

00:06Muralidharan.

00:07The master of spin and deception, Murali once again wove his magic on a turning track as

00:13Sri Lanka faced the West Indies in a keenly contested encounter.

00:17In a spell of classic off-spin mastery, the master off-spin baller captured five wickets

00:22for just 34 runs in 23.4 hours, which included five maidens.

00:27A performance carved with precision, patience, and prodigious turn.

00:31Murali didn't dismantle the Caribbean resistance with his usual blunt of guile and control.

00:37His victims read like a roll call of the West Indies lower order.

00:41The elegant call Hooper was undone by sharp spin.

00:44Wicketkeeper Courtney Brown fell prey to the relentless pressure.

00:48Ian Bishop and Franklin Rose had no answer to his subtleties, and the tale under Courtney

00:53Walsh was the final piece in the Jigsaw.

01:00He was taking a good comeback innings for him, struggled against India.

01:07He didn't play in the one of the Nationals, but then he couldn't fight him back there.

01:13He could use the five, four, four, five rounds.

01:19I bet you a horse, as they say, don't you?

01:34And that's just this thing in a rather funny way.

01:38Is it on?

01:39Was it not on?

01:40On 1,6IT?

01:41In 1,6IT?

01:42And he had a good comeback and he hit hessitin' and then heitken's already loose in the field.

01:441,6IT?

01:45And it's late half two in the end.

01:49The context of this game is very very important innings and a vital repeat.

01:53That's on.

01:54We've gone just before lunch here on the team, except for the discipline.

02:00People speaking, they're speaking very fine at four, but you have to be careful not to get too complacent, or to just on the road.

02:10I love it!

02:13Yeah!

02:18He has to raise the thing now.

02:21He hasn't raised the thing now.

02:23I'm sure he had him.

02:26He has to be careful not to get away from the air.

02:31He's really he's going to have to take part now.

02:35So yeah, I'm doing interesting things, typo, but at least I am going to put in my Eh

02:43.

02:44.

02:49That was the experienced umpires and the nearly good umpires. Here is that a few months

03:03more.

03:04The only conclusive thing is that Hooper is still there.

03:18And he's out this time right before, the finger goes up, the straight ball, skidding 2-1 in,

03:23and Hooper trapped in the back foot, so Militaran votes the approval of the umpire this time,

03:28and the West Indies lose another important hit.

03:31The Militaran getting its first look-up, Hooper goes right before for 27.

03:36Well that's beautifully blown.

03:39People looking for the ball, coming across in, deceived by the straight one, trapped right

03:44in front.

03:45Lord Bach on this occasion, having no doubt whatsoever.

03:50And Hooper is ready to step to step, West Indies now 168-5.

03:56And when you do get the bad delivers, you make use of them.

04:01This young man will show up outside the awesome band.

04:04Bishop was quick to seize upon it.

04:05They haven't been getting too many bad delivers the West Indies,

04:08so it's good that they do get a bad delivery, they can take advantage of it.

04:13Shh!

04:18Watch out, grab aquí!

04:19hooper!

04:20Yeah, he's done, fought by Jacirley.

04:24Now Bartek is thriving the decisions of this effort,

04:31History played by Dolby Bantu Missy Mu,

04:33aki Wanker again among the hits.

04:36Offbet by Jacirley, that's a Bruschen.

04:41obviously everyone at the board came off the back.

04:43A very sharp catch here by Jasuri,

04:45and umpire back on Nodded,

04:47giving the information that he knew he was out,

04:51and Coach Brown was waiting for the finger to the raise

04:54instead of going off the Nod,

04:55but he had to depart in the end.

04:57The no-scorer, Weston is now 172 for seven.

05:11Golden going right across it.

05:14Ian Bishop won't be a tall crowd of that shot,

05:18and O'Connor picks up another wicket,

05:20and the Weston is now down, 189,

05:23and Ian Bishop is losing patience there,

05:26and losing his wicket as well.

05:28Well Bishop appeared to be holding an end up the courtly,

05:32deciding, too many people to have a swing towards the middle region,

05:36not getting anywhere near the ball,

05:39and having a golf stump,

05:41he moved, he's gone for five,

05:43Weston is now 189 for nine.

05:49Golden, right to him,

05:51so Milvan gets another wicket,

05:53and the Weston is collapsed, continues.

05:57Easy as five.

05:59So Franklin Rose goes without scoring,

06:01and the Weston leaves are 189 for nine.

06:05Well Rose here,

06:07completely by the flight.

06:09That one spins right through the gate.

06:11Little third five.

06:17The question is now 189 for nine.

06:24So the Weston's captain comes to the wicket.

06:27He would have watched these rather depressing proceedings from the pavilion.

06:34And here's the latest of the wickets.

06:37Completely deceived,

06:39and comprehensively bowed.

06:44Yes, bit of flight, not a dip.

06:47Turn, right through the gate there.

06:49It means the Weston leaves now have lost their last five wickets for 21,

06:55from 70 deliveries.

06:57Interesting to see what Wilt's approach will be here.

07:05First ball, all over.

07:07So Milvan finishes things off with five wickets,

07:11and the Weston leaves are all out for 189,

07:15which gives Shuraita a lead in the first innings of 34.

07:20Well,

07:22whilst trying to keep it out,

07:24a good point for the competitive shot,

07:26but again,

07:27if he leads the bat,

07:28goes right through the gate,

07:30and goes in.

07:32Beautiful delivery,

07:33one for David.

07:34Pitching,

07:35in the right spot,

07:36just drawing Wilt forward,

07:38teasing him,

07:40and squeezing through the gate.

07:46So that's the Weston's scorecard,

07:48rather depressing reading.

07:50They do, at least,

07:52pass the

07:54worst score they've made on this ground,

07:56which was last year,

07:57against New Zealand.

07:59And they're all out for 184,

08:03189 here,

08:05and the last six wickets falling for 21 runs,

08:09from 71 deliveries,

08:11and Nukaya Mwifaran,

08:13the little off spinner,

08:15becomes the first spin builder on this ground,

08:17to take five wickets in an innings in a test.

08:21Tremendous performance by the Flaky Sri Lankans,

08:24the problems created first to go by Push Pakamara,

08:27with the first three wickets,

08:29those are Williams,

08:30Rifa,

08:31and Lara,

08:32and then,

08:33the spin of Nulukaran,

08:35Dhammasena,

08:36one wicket,

08:37and the left arm pass,

08:38through the Decelga one.

08:39So it's up to the Murali now,

08:41for the West Indies to turn,

08:42bring them back into this game.

08:44Thanks to the Murali brilliance,

08:46the West Indies were bundled out for a modest 189 runs,

08:50giving Sri Lanka a firm grip on the match.

08:53But test cricket is never a one-act play,

08:56and the West Indies,

08:57known for their pride and resilience,

08:59rode back in the second innings with renewed purpose.

09:02They clawed their way to a spirited six-wicket victory,

09:05defying spin,

09:06pressure,

09:07and the looming shadow of Murali Dharan's first innings heroic.

09:11It was a tale of two innings,

09:12one where Murali Dharan,

09:14exceptional supreme,

09:15and another where the West Indies refused to bow down.

09:18Yet even in the defeat,

09:20Murali Dharan's belt stood tall,

09:21a reminder of his genius and a performance

09:24that would be etched in the annals of Sri Lanka cricket history.

09:28So now let us turn back the clock and relive the artistry of Murali Dharan,

09:33a baller who spun dreams out of dust

09:36and left best men grouping in a web of uncertainty.

09:39There was something truly hypnotic about Murali Dharan's balling,

09:43a rare blend of subtlety, aggression, and wizardry.

09:47With his whippy action,

09:48the supple wrist,

09:49and those intensely focused eyes,

09:51Murali Dharan could turn the ball square on even the flattest of surfaces.

09:56What set him apart, however,

09:58was not just the prodigious turn he extracted,

10:01but his unwavering accuracy

10:03and relentless probing of a best man technique.

10:06Whether it was the vicious offbreak that kissed the edge

10:10or the deceptive dosra that zip past the blade,

10:13Murali Dharan had the rare gift of making the ball talk,

10:17each delivery part of a grander plan.

10:19He would build pressure over after over,

10:21chalking the opposition into mistake, never letting up.

10:25It was a mental game as much as a physical one,

10:28and the Murali Dharan was the supreme tactician,

10:32outthinking his prey with subtle change in flight, pace, and trajectory.

10:36Dispelling against the West Indies was a shining example of his unmatched artistry.

10:41Even though the match result did not favour his side,

10:44the five-wicket hall may not have come in a losing cause,

10:47but it was yet another masterclass in a career-filled such a golden chapter.

10:53Muthaya Murali Dharan's performance was a beacon of individual brilliance,

10:56a reminder of what one man could do with the ball and a vision.

11:00As we watch this unforgetable spell unfold once again,

11:04we are reminded not just of the wickets but of the craft,

11:08the quite cunning genius that defined an era.

11:11If you like this video, please comment, share, and subscribe.

11:14Thank you very much.

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