Spectators "light" up the game

The floodlights are currently out at the SA-Pak ODI. This prompted a bored Cricinfo commentator to drop a gem from cricketing folklore.

It was the third Test of the 1978-79 series in Calcutta between Alvin Kallicharran's West Indies and India. West Indies were set to chase 335 in the final innings and were battling for a draw. Kallicharan and David Murray the wicketkeeper, shared a vital partnership, but a mini collapse followed. and at 183 for 8 India had a great chance to wrap it up However, with the light fading fast at the Eden Gardens and Sew Shivnarine playing a stubborn innings at one end, West Indies still had some hope of saving the game.

Unlike today, the batsmen had to appeal to the umpires if they felt the light wasn't good enough. That's what they did then, and India would have fallen short by two wickets if the appeal had been upheld. However the crowd at the ground, nearly 70,000 were not going to give up easily. They had brought along hand-held fire torches, originally meant for the celebrations and decided to light them at that point.

It was a great sight to see almost everyone in the stadium clutching a torch and the light generated was enough to make the umpires decide to resume the game. Floodlights were not too common in those days and the sight of all those lit torches was absolutely unbelivable. Just when the West Indians thought they had done enough to draw, they had to bat out another 15 odd minutes with flames burning all around the ground.

One more wicket fell and the tension was simpy unbearable. The last wicket pair, Sylvester clarke and Shivnarine, hung on grimly however, appealed for light again and were lucky to get away with a draw. It is often said that the crowds are as much a part of a sporting spectacle as the players and it was never more true than on this occasion.