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With the 13th ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup less than a month away we take a look at who scored the first century and first duck of the World Cup and also who took the first five-wicket haul and first hat-trick in the ODI World Cup.
First century: Dennis Amiss
Dennis Amiss, the opening batsman for England, appeared to have a pattern of making hundreds in significant one-day matches (for himself or his side). He played 18 ODIs, hitting four tons with an amazing average of 47.72, including one on his debut, one in his final game and one in the inaugural World Cup match. Having batted first, England scored 334 runs for the loss of 4 wickets, which at the time was the biggest total ever achieved in a 60-over game played in England, thanks to that hundred by Amiss (137 off 147 with 18 fours). His timing was a key part of his innings, which India’s batsmen failed to replicate as they limped to 132 for 3 in reply. Sunil Gavaskar, who is arguably one of India’s greatest batters scored just 36 runs after playing 174 balls.
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First duck: Harilal Shah
On the same day, when Dennis Amiss scored the first century in the World Cup in a different another batting record was created, a rather infamous one. Harilal Shah, the captain of East Africa recorded the first duck in the ODI World Cup history in a match against New Zealand. Unfortunately for Harilal his story with ducks did not end there as he was once again dismissed for a duck in the following game. In his third and final ODI, Harilal made six runs after playing 53 balls. His international career lasted for 56 balls in which he recorded two ducks and one knock of six runs.
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First five-wicket haul: Dennis Lillee
Another Dennis took the first five-for in World Cup history on the same day. Dennis Lillee’s late, brisk burst on his way to 5 for 34 in 12 overs completely turned the Pakistani chase around. Australia reached 278 for 7 in their 60 overs in what was the third official World Cup game, thanks to strong cameos from their top order and an unbeaten 80 from Ross Edwards. After some hiccups, Majid Khan and Asif Iqbal took some chances but successfully restarted the pursuit with half-centuries. Pakistan was 172 for 4 after 40 overs, but things quickly fell apart. Lillee mimicked the scary speeds he had achieved in the early 1970s before suffering a stress fracture in his back, sending Pakistan from 181 for 4 to 205 all out.
First hat-trick: Chetan Sharma
Even after three World Cups in 1975, 1979 and 1983 the marquee tournament did not witness a single hat-trick. In the 4th World Cup in 1987, this feat was about to be achieved. The 1987 World Cup was the first time that the tournament was hosted outside of England. It was India and Pakistan who hosted the fourth World Cup.
During India’s final group game against New Zealand, medium-pacer Chetan Sharma took the first hat-trick in World Cup history. It was during his sixth over when he achieved the historic feat. He first bowled the set batter, Ken Rutherford courtesy of an almost unplayable in-dipper delivery. He repeated the same delivery to Ian Smith which remained a little low, the result was the same as the wicketkeeper was bowled. On his hat-trick delivery to Ewen Chatfield, he made a slight change to his delivery as bowled a fuller-length ball. Chatfield went across and received the same treatment as he was bowled too.
This was India’s first-ever hat-trick in ODIs. India went on to win the game and topped their group. Chetan’s efforts did not go to waste as he shared the Player of the Match award with the second innings’ centurion, Sunil Gavaskar.
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