On This Day In Cricket - October 7

When the date October 7 arrives, cricket recalls several memorable moments. Dwayne Bravo, born in 1983, became a West Indian all-rounder celebrated for his T20 success and leadership in global leagues. In 2012, Marlon Samuels’ heroic 78 powered West Indies to their maiden World T20 title in Colombo. The 2023 World Cup saw South Africa post a record total of 428 against Sri Lanka. Michael Clarke announced himself with a brilliant 151 on his Test debut in 2004. In 1979, Geoff Dymock claimed all 11 Indian wickets in a Kanpur Test, though Australia lost. Among notable birthdays are England’s Charles Russell, Australia’s Graham Yallop, and South Africa’s Louis Tancred.

On This Day - October 7, 2017 - India Defeats Australia by 9 Wickets

On October 7, 2017, India steamrolled Australia by nine wickets in a rain-hit T20I at Ranchi, kicking off the series in style. Australia batted first, crawling to 118 for 8 in 18.4 overs on a tacky pitch. Finch’s 42 off 30 was their best, Maxwell’s 17 a flicker. Warner, Head, Henriques, Christian, Paine, Coulter-Nile barely fired. India’s bowlers owned it as Kuldeep Yadav 2 for 16, Bumrah 2 for 17, Chahal 1 for 23, Pandya 1 for 33, Kumar 1.

DLS set a 48-run target in 6 overs. Rohit fell for 11, but Dhawan (15 not out) and Kohli (22 not out) knocked it off in 5.3, three balls left. Kuldeep’s spin earned him Player of the Match, a nod to his chokehold. India took a 1-0 lead, all swagger. Ranchi’s tricky track was no match for their spin and batting nous, dismantling a tough Aussie side.

On This Day - October 7, 1998 - Ajit Agarkar Makes His Test Debut

On October 7, 1998, Ajit Agarkar, a young Mumbai quick, burst onto the Test scene for India against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club. Just 20, he stepped up under Mohammad Azharuddin’s captaincy, with India choosing to bowl first on a pitch with some early bite. Zimbabwe battled to 221, undone by Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble, who bagged three wickets each. Agarkar, all raw pace and ambition, struck gold by nabbing opener Gavin Rennie for his first Test wicket, finishing with 1 for 40. That swing and fire marked him as one to watch.

India’s batting reply hit 280, built on Rahul Dravid’s gritty 118 and Sourav Ganguly’s stylish 47. Zimbabwe’s Henry Olonga, though, stole the show with a five-wicket haul that earned him Player of the Match. In their second innings, Zimbabwe made 293, with Rennie’s 84 and Craig Wishart’s 63 setting India a target of 235. Agarkar grabbed another scalp, showing his knack for big moments. The chase went south, India folding for 173, though Agarkar’s plucky 16 showed fight. The 61-run loss stung, but Agarkar’s debut sparkled. His ability to rattle batsmen and chip in with the bat in tough conditions kicked off a career that would see him become a key cog in India’s pace attack, a Mumbai lad shining bright on a tricky tour.

On This Day - October 7, 1983 - Dwayne Bravo Was Born Today

Born on October 7, 1983, in Santa Cruz, Trinidad, Dwayne Bravo became a cricketing dynamo whose flair turned matches into spectacles. From 2004 to 2021, he lit up the West Indies across formats. In 40 Tests, Bravo piled on 2200 runs at a 31.42 average, with three centuries, and snagged 86 wickets with his wily medium pace. His 164 ODIs brought 2968 runs and 199 wickets, while 91 T20Is delivered 1255 runs and 78 wickets, cementing his white-ball legend status.

T20 cricket was Bravo’s playground. A two-time T20 World Cup winner, he owned leagues like the IPL, where his Chennai Super Kings spells were pure magic. First to 500 T20 wickets, his slower balls and yorkers were a nightmare for batsmen. Injuries and board disputes cut his Test days short, but as captain in limited-overs cricket, he led with swagger, smashing sixes and saving games. His off-field vibe, full of music and dance, made him cricket’s ultimate showman. From clutch IPL hauls to celebrations that got crowds roaring, Bravo redefined the all-rounder role. His legacy lives in every big hit, every clever slower ball, and every grin that said he loved the game. That spark keeps inspiring players to bring passion and flair to cricket’s biggest stages, making Bravo a name that still echoes through stadiums worldwide.

On This Day - October 7, 2023 - South Africa Defeats Sri Lanka by 102 Runs

On October 7, 2023, South Africa turned Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium into a batting carnival, thrashing Sri Lanka by 102 runs in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Batting first, they racked up 428 for 5 in 50 overs. Quinton de Kock carved a smooth 100 off 84 balls, Rassie van der Dussen grafted 108 off 110, but Aiden Markram went berserk, hammering 106 off 54 with 14 fours and 3 sixes at a 196.29 strike rate. Heinrich Klaasen’s 32 and David Miller’s unbeaten 39, plus 23 extras, left Sri Lanka’s bowlers shell-shocked.

Chasing 429, Sri Lanka fought to 326 in 44.5 overs. Kusal Mendis blazed 76 off 42, Charith Asalanka hit 79, Dasun Shanaka 68, but the rest crumbled. South Africa’s bowlers, led by Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, and Lungi Ngidi, shared the wickets, squeezing the life out of the chase. Markram’s fiery knock earned him Player of the Match, a nod to his game-changing blitz. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. South Africa’s batting depth and bowling steel screamed World Cup contender, setting the 2023 tournament ablaze. The match, all fireworks and fights, showed why cricket’s biggest stage loves a team that can dominate with bat and ball, leaving fans buzzing and rivals rattled.

On This Day - October 7, 2012 - West Indies Defeats Sri Lanka by 36 Runs to Win the T20 World Cup 2012

On October 7, 2012, the West Indies stormed to the ICC World Twenty20 crown, beating Sri Lanka by 36 runs in a cracking final at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. Batting first, they hit trouble early, with Chris Gayle and Johnson Charles gone cheap. Marlon Samuels, though, played a blinder, smashing 78 off 56 with three fours and six sixes, dragging his side to 137 for 6. Daren Sammy’s 26 not out and Dwayne Bravo’s 19 kept the scoreboard ticking, despite Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis and Akila Dananjaya bowling tight.

Defending that total, the West Indies were electric. Sunil Narine’s spin nabbed three wickets, Sammy took two, and Sri Lanka’s chase imploded. Dilshan fell for a duck first over, and while Mahela Jayawardene’s 33 and Kumar Sangakkara’s 22 tried to steady things, the rest folded, all out for 101 in 18.4 overs. Samuels, the match’s heartbeat, grabbed Player of the Match. This win was massive, ending a long wait for a West Indies global title. That night in Colombo, full of flair and fight, captured T20’s soul. Samuels’ big hits, Narine’s guile, Sammy’s grit, it was cricket at its rawest, a triumph that still sings in the Caribbean’s cricketing lore.

On This Day - October 7, 2022 - Australia Defeats West Indies by 31 Runs

On October 7, 2022, Australia powered past the West Indies by 31 runs in the 2nd T20I at Brisbane, wrapping up a 2-0 series win. Batting first, they posted 178 for 7, with David Warner unleashing 75 off 41, all 10 fours and 3 sixes. Tim David’s 42 off 20 brought the late fireworks, Steven Smith (17) and Aaron Finch (15) adding bits. Alzarri Joseph fought for the Windies, but 10 extras didn’t help.

Chasing 179, the West Indies flopped against Australia’s pace, ending at 147 for 8. Charles (29), King (23), Hosein (25) showed some spine, but Pooran’s 2 was a low point. Starc was brutal, 4 for 20 tearing through, Cummins mopping up with 2. No partnerships, just Australia’s bowlers and fielders running riot. Warner’s knock won him Player of the Match and Series, no contest. Brisbane’s bounce played into Australia’s hands, exposing the Windies’ struggles against top-shelf pace. This was Australia’s T20 machine at work, Warner’s aggression, Starc’s fire, all clicking. The West Indies walked away bruised, a tough lesson in a series that got away, but cricket’s like that, always teaching.

On This Day - October 7, 2021 - Punjab Kings Defeats Chennai Super Kings by 6 Wickets

On October 7, 2021, Punjab Kings put on a show, chasing down Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in IPL 2021’s 53rd match at Dubai. Chennai batted first, limping to 134 for 6, with Faf du Plessis’ 76 off 55 the only real fight. Jadeja’s 15 not out and Dhoni’s 12 kept it afloat, but Arshdeep Singh and Chris Jordan’s tight bowling choked Chennai’s hopes of a big score.

Punjab’s chase was a one-man riot. KL Rahul smashed an unbeaten 98 off 42, seven fours, eight sixes, pure class. Agarwal’s 12 was a side note as Rahul ran the show, hitting 139 for 4 in 13 overs, 42 balls to spare. Thakur and Chahar grabbed wickets for Chennai, but nothing stopped that onslaught. Rahul’s masterclass bagged him Player of the Match, no surprise. Punjab climbed to fifth on the IPL table, playoff hopes still burning, while Chennai hit a rare snag despite Faf’s grit.