Greatest Cricket Moments

West Indies Win by One Run — Adelaide, January 1993

1993-01-26Australia vs West Indies4th Test, West Indies tour of Australia 1992-933 min readSeverity: Explosive

Summary

On January 26, 1993, West Indies beat Australia by one run at Adelaide — the narrowest victory by runs in Test history. Australia, chasing 186, were 102 for 8 when Tim May (42 not out) and Craig McDermott (18) added 40 for the ninth wicket and then 42 for the tenth before McDermott was given out caught behind off a Courtney Walsh bouncer with two runs needed.

Background

Series 1-1 going into Adelaide. West Indies were defending the Frank Worrell Trophy they had held since 1976; Australia had not won it for 17 years. The Sydney Test (2nd) had been drawn; Brian Lara had scored 277 in Sydney, his maiden Test hundred and his then-highest score.

Build-Up

WI 252 first innings (Hooper 38, Ambrose 36 — Hughes and McDermott took four each). Australia 213 (Border 19, Boon 27, Ian Healy 21). WI second innings 146 (May 5/9 the standout performance of his career). Australia chasing 186.

What Happened

The series was 1-1 going into the fourth Test at Adelaide. West Indies, missing the captaincy of Richie Richardson for parts of the tour, scored 252 in their first innings. Australia replied with 213 — Tim May taking 5 for 9 in West Indies' second innings (146 all out) to give Australia a target of 186. The chase began calmly. By tea Australia had reached 102 for 8 and the game looked over. Curtly Ambrose had 5 for 32 and was the Man of the Match in waiting. Then May (the No. 9) and Justin Langer (last specialist bat) added briefly; when Langer fell for 54 off 146 balls (his Test best at the time, on debut), Craig McDermott walked out with 84 needed. May and McDermott added 40 for the ninth wicket. May was unbeaten on 42 from 50 balls — square cuts, late drives and one cover drive off Walsh that almost went for six. The total reached 184 for 9 — two runs needed. Walsh bounced. McDermott ducked but the ball brushed his glove and looped to Junior Murray behind. Umpire Darrell Hair raised the finger. Australia 184 all out, beaten by one run. Curtly Ambrose collapsed to his knees. Some Australians believed McDermott did not glove the ball; Wisden's later assessment was the decision was correct.

Key Moments

1

Tim May 5/9 to dismiss WI for 146

2

Australia 102/8 at tea; game seemingly over

3

Langer 54 (Test debut innings) — added briefly with May

4

May (42*) and McDermott added 42 for the 10th wicket

5

184/9 — two runs needed

6

Walsh bounces McDermott — caught behind given by Darrell Hair

7

WI win by one run; Ambrose collapses to his knees

Timeline

Jan 23, 1993

Day 1 — West Indies 252 all out.

Jan 24

Day 2 — Australia 213, trail by 39.

Jan 25

Day 3 — May 5/9; West Indies 146; Australia 31/3 chasing 186.

Jan 26

Day 4 — Australia 102/8; May-Langer rebuild; McDermott c Murray b Walsh; Australia 184; lost by 1 run.

Notable Quotes

“I knew I'd hit it. He was a great bowler bowling a great delivery. I'm just sorry it ended that way.”

— Craig McDermott

“I'd never felt anything like it. We knew if we lost there, we'd lose the trophy.”

— Curtly Ambrose

Aftermath

West Indies took the series 2-1 by winning the final Test at Perth (Ambrose 7 for 1) by an innings. McDermott always maintained the ball did not touch his glove; Wisden and TV replays largely supported the umpire. Tim May's 5 for 9 and unbeaten 42 in the same Test made him a folk hero in Australia. Justin Langer's gutsy 54 on debut started a 105-Test career.

⚖️ The Verdict

The narrowest victory by runs in Test history (a record that stood until New Zealand beat England by one run at Lord's, 2025). The most heart-stopping finish of the 1990s.

Legacy & Impact

For 32 years, the narrowest Test victory by runs in history. The match is routinely cited in lists of the greatest Test finishes alongside Edgbaston 2005, Brisbane 1960 (the tied Test), and Karachi 1994. The Adelaide Oval scoreboard photograph showing 'AUS 184 WI 252 & 146 — WI WON BY 1 RUN' is one of the most reproduced images in Test cricket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the ball touch McDermott's glove?▾
Umpire Darrell Hair gave it out caught behind. McDermott always denied glovng it. TV replays of the era, run at standard frame rates, were inconclusive but most commentators sided with the umpire.
Has any Test been won by a smaller margin?▾
Only the tied Test (Brisbane 1960) and tied Test (Madras 1986) have ended with a smaller margin (zero). Among run-margin victories, this was the smallest in Test history at the time and stood as the record for decades.

Tags

#west-indies#australia#adelaide#1993#iconic-moment#curtly-ambrose#courtney-walsh#tim-may#craig-mcdermott#one-run

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