4/3/24, 12:17 PM Seven ways to stay alive

moment with three joyful uppercuts of his right

fist.

When Ramdin completes his hundred, and chides

Viv Richards for his scathing criticism with the
infamous "Yea Viv talk nah" note, Best, on 66,
shouts to him: "Play for me now." Ramdin does,
adding seven singles in 23 balls as Best's
sensational innings moves within touching
distance of its own century, which is where it
unravels with a misguided hoick off a Graham
Onions slower ball.

It was demonstration that last-wicket stands are

subversive, they provide an illicit thrill - the saucy
feeling, like small boys giggling at an aunt's funeral,
that by all known parameters something is
happening that should not be happening.

See also
1951: Jasu Patel (152) and Hasan Nakhuda (15 not
out) add 136 in 90 minutes in a lost cause for
Gujarat against Holkar in the Ranji Trophy final
2011: Ravi Rampaul (86 not out) and Kemar Roach
(24 not out), Nos. 10 and 11, smash 99 in 14 overs
after being 170 for nine to set India a decent target
in Vishakhapatnam

Nigel Henderson has authored three cricket books,

including the Ashes travelogue If It Was Raining Palaces,
and is co-founder of internet alternative commentary
Guerillacricket.com
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

RELATED ARTICLES

I Was There High Fives

The analytical
'It was the best power of the A twist in the tail
I'd hit it. I never halfway mark A leggie, two offies and two

repeated it' fast bowlers walk into a

https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1093928/nigel-henderson-on-seven-types-of-heroic-last-wicket-stands 15/16