The 1992 Cricket World Cup was a thrilling event that showcased the best of international cricket.
One of the most memorable matches of the tournament took place on Thursday 27 February 1992, at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). England and the West Indies, two of the most formidable teams in the world, faced off in a round-robin match that would be remembered for years to come.
In the summer of 1991/92, England had just completed a successful tour of New Zealand under the captaincy of Graham Gooch. The team's morale was high and they were eager to continue their winning streak in the World Cup. Gooch's leadership played a crucial role in England's success, as he led by example and inspired his teammates to perform at their best.
Meanwhile, the once mighty West Indies were struggling to find their footing. They had failed to make the World Series final when they played against Australia and India earlier that summer. The team was going through a transitional phase, with several key players retiring or nearing the end of their careers. Despite these challenges, the West Indies were determined to prove their mettle in the World Cup.
The match between England and the West Indies at the MCG was a nail-biting affair. England won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that would prove to be a masterstroke. The West Indies were bowled out for a modest total of 157 runs. England's bowlers, led by Derek Pringle and Chris Lewis, put in a disciplined performance to restrict the West Indies' scoring.
In reply, England's batsmen chased down the target with relative ease. Opener Ian Botham and captain Graham Gooch put on a solid partnership, setting the foundation for the victory. Gooch was eventually dismissed for 65 runs, but not before he had laid the groundwork for England's triumph. All-rounder Chris Lewis played a crucial role in the lower order, scoring an unbeaten 32 runs to guide England to a six-wicket victory with 61 balls remaining.
While the match itself was thrilling, New Zealanders experienced TVNZ's coverage in a rather unconventional way. Its live coverage, which commenced at 4.15pm that day on TV One (now TVNZ 1), had unusual scheduled breaks for news and current affairs as well as a game show (Sale of the Century) and the highly acclaimed British police drama, The Bill.
Contrary to expectations, TVNZ suspended its coverage at 6pm for One Network News, followed by Holmes at 6.30pm and Sale of the Century at 7pm. The return to the live cricket action was not until 7.30pm, capturing the final stages of the first innings.
After an episode of The Bill (at 8pm), live coverage resumed at 8.30pm with the second innings. However, another interruption occurred at 10.30pm for a condensed version of TVNZ's late news and current affairs programme, Tonight (i.e. the late news), leaving viewers with a disjointed viewing experience. TV One ended transmission at approximately 12.30am.
In this short clip, Geoff Bryan wrapped up the first innings of the England v West Indies match before taking a break for The Bill. Live cricket action, as I wrote earlier, continued at 8.30pm that night.
Special thanks to RU-vid channel Sleek822 for the use of this clip. Please note that portions of the information may be incorrect at the time of writing.
7 сен 2024
