5 best bowling performances of Curtly Ambrose
Here we will have a look at the best bowling performances of Curtly Amborose. The former Windies bowler was one of the tallest cricketers who ever played international cricket. He was a terrifyingly fast bowler who used his height to the full advantage.
Ambrose was capable of generating some great pace and made the ball bounce from difficult spots. He made a deadly combination with an another West Indian great Courtney Walsh. He has many great performances in his career, here have a look at his best five which we have picked out:
5. 4 for 29 vs Pakistan, 1988 Sharjah
The Pakistani openers were out in the middle to provide a steady start to their team to chase down 236 set by the West Indies in the finals of the Champions Trophy in Sharjah. But the young Ambrose sent both the openers packing very early. After that when Pakistan were threatning the Windies to chase the total, Ambrose again came to the rescue and got rid of Miandad who was single handedly taking the West Indian bowlers on. He ended up with 4 wickets in 10 overs and his team won the game by just 11 runs.
4. 7 for 25 vs Australia, 1993 Perth
After winning the last Test and levelling the series, the Windies were all set to seal the series at the WACA and Ambrose set the plot for the big victory for his team in the first innings. He scalped 7 wickets in the first innings using all his might at the favourable Perth wicket in just one spell. His first victim was Mark Waugh when Australia were 85 for 2, and thereafter he ripped the Kangaroos apart and bowled them out for a meagre total of 119. The Carribeans later won the Test by an innings.
3. 8 for 45 vs England, 1990 Bridgetown
England were already leading the five match Test series by 1-0. In the fourth Test match, towards the end of day 4, England came out to bat, there were good chances that the English would either maintain or even exceed their lead. But Ambrose took the charge and picked up 2 wickets to leave England 19 for three at the end of the day. But still two wicket keepers Stewart and Russel on day four started very well and denied all chances to their opponets, and then just at the right moment Ambrose broke the partnership and thereafter blew away the English batting line up. He had his career best figures of 8 for 45 to help his team win the match.
2. 6 for 74 and 4 for 46 vs Australia, 1993 Adelaide
Australia were leading the five match series 1-0 at home and in to the fourth Test after bundling out the visitors from Carribean for just around 250, Australia were looking in a good position, but after the early loss of wickets, Ambrose was fired up and blew the Australian middle order apart. His fantastic bowling performance helped his team take a crucial lead. But Tim May made his comeback memorable for Australia and scalped a 5 for leaving his side to chase only 186 runs. But again Ambrose was standing tall for the Windies, he bruised the Kangaroos early and then took 3 wickets in 19 balls when the Aussies started to take the game away. At the end a thrilling Test match ended in a victory for the vistors by just 1 run.
1. 5 for 60 and 6 for 24 vs England, 1994 Port of Spain
England looked convincing in the beginning and managed the all important lead in the first innings of the 3rd Test match of the series which they were trailing by 0-2 against the West Indies. But still Ambrose was always troubling the English batsmen whole through the innings. He was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts with his five wicket haul. In the second innings as well the Windies couldn’t post a big total and had to try their chance with only 194 runs to defend. But this total as well proved to be huge one when Ambrose decimated the English batting and got them all out for just 46 runs with his 6 wickets in just a single spell of 10 overs.
