OTD: Three legends of West Indies played their last ever Test match

August 12, 1991, officially marked the end of an era of Caribbean cricket as three legends played their last ever Test match at The Oval against England. It was the last day in Test cricket for Viv Richards, Jeff Dujon, and Malcolm Marshall.

Both teams fought for every inch of the field, but it was England, the home team, who got the last laugh by defeating the West Indies. The decorated careers of the three greats could have ended with a high note, but Graham Gooch and his boys spoiled the party.

West Indies felt behind mostly because of their unexpected batting failures in the first innings of the game. Phil Tufnell single-handedly took down the middle-lower batting order of WI. The slow left-arm orthodox took 6 wickets against 25 runs in his 14.3-over spell. Desmond Haynes remained unbeaten with 75 runs and watched his teammates come and go.

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Records remain, players left

West Indies, in his follow-on innings, came back strongly from the back. Richie Richardson scored a hundred and fifty-plus scores from Carl Hooper and then the skipper, Viv Richards. In the second innings, WI got 385 on the scoreboard. Because of their lackluster batting in the first innings, they only managed to offer the home team a target of 143 runs, which Three Lions got after losing 5 scalps. 

The final match of Viv Richards, Jeff Dujon, and Malcolm Marshall resulted in a defeat; England won by 5 wickets. Jeff Dujon finished with 272 dismissals, the record for a West Indies wicketkeeper; Malcolm Marshall with 376 wickets; and Viv Richards hit 60 to keep his Test batting average over 50. 

Summary of the match:

ENG: (T:143) 419 & 146/5

WI: (fo) 176 & 385

England won by 5 wickets