Chris
Harris belongs to the class of cricketers who remain viable in every era and
there importance is felt once they are gone. Harris represented New Zealand for
14 years, scored more than 4000 runs and took 250 wickets, he was real team
man, we look at one of the finest innings played by the former all-rounder in
1996 World Cup
11th March 1996, when Chris Harris lit the Chepauk
In February –March of 1996, The Indian Subcontinent
was buzzing around with the Cricket World Cup, three countries India, Pakistan
and Sri Lanka were organizing it and it would not be wrong to say that the
cricket madness was at its peak. After locking horns for a of couple of weeks
the top eight team battled around to reach to the quarters. India defeated Pakistan
in high octane encounter at Bangalore; While Brian Lara master class ensured
West Indies ended favourites South Africa go packing. Earlier Sri Lanka riding
high on their new experiment at top had crushed England. The final quarterfinal
was set up for a grand Trans Tasman rivalry between Australia and New Zealand
at historic Chepauk stadium at Madras.
New Zealand who had been impressive in the
tournament without being threatening batted first but the start went horribly
wrong as the top order played some atrocious shots to leave Kiwis at 44-3. In
such a scenario Lee Germon, the skipper who had promoted himself to no.3 was
joined by Chris Harris. Harris till then had become an integral part of the New
Zealand’s limited over team and was the most senior among the top 5. He took
Aussies by surprise as he was in mood to counter attack right from the beginning.
The pull he hit of Glenn McGrath in 10th over was sublime to watch
and the next one in 13th over a cracking shot over the covers of the
same bowler was even better. Spin was introduced but Germon counterattacked
Warne efficiently and by the time Harris had reached a brilliant fifty New Zealand
had been scoring at 6.5. When skipper Lee Germon was out for a brilliant 89,The
score was 212-3 in 35.2 overs. He was the fourth wicket to fall, with Harris, Chris
Cairns and Roger Towse still to come, it looked New Zealand would rack up
320-325 . Harris kept on churning the singles and kept moving the scoreboard
as Australia tried to bounce back.
In 39th over he nudged a single off Michael
Bevan to reach a remarkable hundred in body sapping Madras heat. However on the
other hand Australia started to claw back with cluster of wickets. The failure
and early dismissal of Adam Parore and Chris Cairns was a huge blow to New
Zealand’s aim to reach around 320, in fact with some brilliant bowling it was difficult
for even Harris to score. After battling for long in humid temperature at last
Harris was out trying to hit out Warne in the final over of the inning. He was
out for a memorable 130 and by the time he was out he has given his team a
chance to exert pressure on the opposition .
Though New Zealand lost the game on the back of a brilliant
hundred by Mark Waugh but the innings from Harris and his partnership with Lee
Germon went into the pages of history books as one of the best. The innings
from Harris is remembered even today by the cricket followers especially those
who have seen it live.
Very well written, keep it up!
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