Read the articles of India's first ever ODI Match in Cricket History - India tour of England 2-match One-day international series of the 1st ODI match played first time between India and England at Headingley, Leeds in 13th July 1974.
India's first ever one-day international match played against England in 1974 at Headingley
* This was modified Article reference from ( The Observer ) Author by Michael Carey
England drew upon their vast experience of one-day cricket to beat India by four wickets with three overs in hand in the first of the international matches for the Prudential Trophy at Headingley.
Although defeat was once more their pordon the Indians endeared themselves to a large crowd by their spirited performance, making 265 after being put in, with two dashing innings from Ajit Wadekar and Brijesh Patel.
 |
| Third Party Reference Image from Freepressjournal |
When England batted, John Edrich played the anchor man's innings of 90 off 97 deliveries including 6 splendid fours and one six with strike rate of 93.78, which won him the man of the match award, although when he was out.
England 54 runs were still needed from nine overs. Strong supporting roles, however, came from Keith Fletcher and Tony Greig and the final few minutes were played in torrential rain before Chris Old made the winning hit.
England captain Mike Dennese's decision to put India in first seemed admirably bold-designs, perhaps, to explore the psychological stranglehold his side held rather than by the conditions.
In the event, the day's second surprise was the rollicking way that Sunil Gavaskar and Sudhir Naik, who was the first opening batsman for India in cricket history, Gavaskar and Naik set about the English attack.
The first having been the excellent manner that the citizens of Leeds supported a game of academic interest. They were rewarded with 44 runs from the first nine overs.
Early on Sunil Gavaskar cutting at Geoff Arnold, saw the ball just elude Knott's grasp as he dived far to his right, Thus encouraged.
Gavaskar pulled and drove Chris Old for six and four in an over that yielded 15 runs and hereabouts the tourists seemed to have scant regard for proprieties like building from a solid start.
When in the space of four overs, Naik, Gavaskar and Gundapp Vishwanath all went, Robin Jackman and Bob Woolner each taking a wicket in his first over, some teams might have had a drastic re-think, But by now was playing with great fluency.
The left-hander's version of the lofted pulled drive was much in evidence as he waded into Woolner, twice hoisting him over mid-wicket to the boundary.
With Farokh Engineer nudging the ball the ball away on the side, 70 runs came from the next 15 overs.
Prompting a horrid little vision of England's attack rolling in similar conditions on the other side of the world in a few months come.
Farokh Engineer eventually falled to make costact with a push to mid-wicket, but Wadekar skilled serenely on, pulling and booking with the abandon of a man who has forgotten his recent past.
When Patel joined him and immediately began to play one high class stroke after another, it was hard to believe that this pair had mustered less than 100 between them in 10 Test innings this sufficer.
Wadekar eventually fell to Jackman for 67 off 82 deliveries including 10 terrific fours, Ajit Wadekar, who was first batsman scored a half century for India in one day international cricket history.
Patel continued to bat with much vigour, hooking Jackman over the square leg boundary, before falling at 82 to skier well taken by Fletcher on the mid-wicket boundary.
India's total was the highest since this competition began in 1972, England were left with almost five runs an over to score and Eknath Dollar gave his side a tremendous early breakthrough by having Dennis Amiss leg before wicket.
David Lloyd and John Edrich scored steadily and Wadekar soon had his field pushed back, with ones and twos there for the taking.
England progressed at four runs an over until Lloyd lunged forward at Solkar and was neatly stumped by Farokh Engineer, who was the first wicket-keeper stumping for India in one-day cricket.
Solkar was then denied a confident shout for lbw before Denness had scored, whereupon the captain drove at a widish ball from Madam Lal without quite getting there and England.
At 96 for 3, could not afford many more early mishope, John Edrich, however, looked unperturbed and prepared for a long stay.
Edrich took singles, leaving the heroics to Keith Fletcher, This was all very well up to a point and they added 82 in 16 overs.
But when Fletcher drove a return catch to Bishan Bedi, England still needed another 87 runs from 14 overs and clearly some hasty improvisation was called for.
John Edrich stepped up the tempo on-driving Bedi for six and hereabouts 22 runs came from three overs.
Bishan Bedi then held a nicely judged running catch as Edrich tried to hit Srinivasa Venkatraghavan over the top and with England 50 runs required from nine overs.
it seemed to be a case of England's expertise against India's out-cricket and field placings.
Two overs from Bishan Bedi and Venkatraghavan cost 18 runs and eased the pressure as Tony Greig and Alan Knott harnessed hold strokes and impudent running.
By now the light was poor and it began to rain hard, Tony Greig drove Bishan Bedi majestically over long on for six and departed next ball having, not for the first time that year.
Tony Greig's 40 off facing 28 deliveries batting performance helped to the a match England's way in 51.1 overs with 23 balls remaining.
: