The Ind vs WI First Test 1958–59 at Delhi was an exciting affair. India, after scoring 415 in the first innings, conceded a lead of 229 to the West Indies, who declared their innings at 644 for eight wickets.
On the last day, after being 243 for three at one stage, India was in danger of defeat but managed to save the game. Manjrekar and Polly Umrigar were on the injured list. Chandu Borde, in indifferent form throughout the series, cracked a century in the first inning and came very close to scoring another in the second inning.
At the fall of the eighth wicket (Desai), the West Indies fielders were seen rushing back to the pavilion. But Hemu Adhikari, India’s fourth skipper during the series, asked them to wait. Vijay Manjrekar, despite having a fractured thumb, strode majestically to the wicket to help Borde achieve the coveted two separate hundreds in the match.
Chandu Borde was on 95 when Roy Gilchrist completed the over to Manjrekar. But Borde struggled to get the five runs from Smith. He took a single off Smith and faced Gilchrist at the other end. The second ball was a fiery bouncer. Chandu Borde attempted to hook it, but trod onto the wicket and was declared out. Thus, this was the end of their splendid innings, four short of his second century in the match. It was a day to remember. The Indian innings saw many ups and downs, and the big crowd had their money’s worth.
The match was memorable for so many players. Chandu Borde, on the verge of being dropped from the side, scored his first century in Tests. Hemu Adhikari won the toss and deprived his rival Alexander of winning the toss in all the tests of the series. Ramakant Desai was making his debut in Tests, and he had captured the wickets of Rohan Kanhai, Holt, Collie Smith, and Gary Sobers for 169 runs.
This was indeed a fine piece of the bowling of sustained accuracy and superlative perseverance on a heartbreaking wicket. Conard Hunte missed his bowling before he opened his account, and again at 30. In the absence of Polly Umrigar, Pankaj Roy opened the bowling with Desi.
