People often remember great centuries and double centuries in cricket but little does anyone remember a 99 or a 199 because it’s all about milestones at the end of the day. One can’t even imagine how disheartening it is to be dismissed in their nervous 90’s after all the hardwork for the major chunk of the innings and then not being able to celebrate with the helmet off, ugh worst feeling ever. Recently Faf du Plessis, playing against SriLanka became the latest entry to this unfortunate list of played dismissed for 199. So in this article we will discuss ten instances where players got dismissed on 199.
The first name in the list is of Mudassar Nazar. Nazar was the first man to get dismissed on an individual score of 199 against India at Faisalabad in the year 1984. Nazar eventually played 76 tests for Pakistan scoring 4114 runs for his country. Pakistan responded to India’s massive score of 500 in emphatic fashion in their face-off in 1984, but runs came slowly. With the scoreboard at 391/1 and Mudassar Nazar batting on 199, Shivlal Yadav bowled a loopy off break. Nazar went for it but unfortunately nicked the ball straight to Syed Kirmani who made no mistake in completing the catch.
The second name in the list is of Mathew Elliot. The left-handed Australian batsman was dismissed for 199 against England in 1997 at Leeds. He played 21 matches for Australia and scored a good 1172 runs for the team. Australia began their 1st innings against England in 1997 on a shaky note as an inspired bowling spell by Darren Gough and Dean Headly left the Aussies reeling at 50/4. It was the duo of Mathew Elliot and Ricky Ponting that bailed Australia out of trouble before Ponting was dismissed for 127. Elliot looked set to get to his maiden double century but a Darren Gough Yorker undid him at 199. It was a sad end to a great Test innings.
The third name in the list is of Steve Waugh. The talented Australian created these figures in the year 1999 against West Indies in Bridgetown, Barbados. He scored heaps of runs for his Australian side. His statistics read a massive 10927 runs in 168 matches. Aussie captain Steve Waugh won the toss and opted to bat against the mighty West Indies in 1999. A brutal spell from Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose left the visitors reeling at 36/3. It was Steve Waugh who resurrected their innings and looked firmly set on the crease for his 2nd double century in Tests, but an attempted slog-sweep on 199 hit him right in front and the Australian captain was adjudged LBW.
The fourth name in the list is of Sanath Jayasuriya. The ace Sri Lankan batsman too achieved this score of 199 against India at Colombo in the year 1997. The all-rounder played 110 tests for Sri Lanka in which he scored 6973 runs. India took a lead of 43 runs in their 1st innings and Sri Lanka responded in a terrific fashion in their 2nd innings with two of their batsmen going beyond hundred. With the score at 363/2 and Sanath Jayasuriya batting on 199, Abey Kuruvilla bowled a perfect inswinger which came in sharply and rattled the stumps. It was unfortunate for the destructive batsman to miss out on a well deserved double Test century.
The fifth name in the list is of Mohammad Azharuddin. Azharuddin was the first Indian player to get to the pavilion on a score of 199. He faced this “unlucky experience” against Sri Lanka in the year 1986 in Kanpur. Azhar completed 99 tests scoring 6215 runs for the Indian cap. Three batsmen in the Indian batting lineup scored centuries as they amassed an enormous 676 in the 1st innings. Azharuddin looked well set at the crease for his maiden Test double century, but unfortunately attempted his trademark flick shot at 199 and got trapped in front of the wickets. The umpire had no hesitation in mind as he raised his finger to declare him out.
The sixth name in the list is of English batsman Ian Bell. The English batsman showed his class against South Africa at Lord’s in the year 2008. He is still a part of the England side and has made 7345 runs from 110 tests. After being put into bat, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen shared a massive partnership together as both of them completed their baffling centuries. Soon Kevin was dismissed but Ian Bell kept going and looked set for his maiden double century. At 199, Bell looked for a quick single on the leg side but mistimed it straight to the bowler, Paul Harris, who completed the catch with utmost ease and the double century evaded Ian Bell.
The seventh name in the list is of Pakistan veteran Younis Khan. Younis Khan went on to make a 199 in a match against India at Lahore in 2006. The talented batsman produced 8547 runs with the willow from 98 matches. On a flat Lahore pitch, four Pakistani batsmen scored centuries against India but the major talking point of the match came when Younis Khan was batting on 199.
As he went for his 200th run Harbhajan Singh hit the stumps directly and the former was unable to make his crease. It was a brilliant piece of fielding by the Turbanator but the way Younis played during his innings he deserved a double century.
The eighth name in the list is of Steven Smith. The most talented unorthodox batsman of the modern era too got dismissed on a well played 199 runs against West Indies at Kingston, Jamaica during the ongoing series. Steven Smith looked to be in divine touch as he piled on runs while other batsmen were unable to provide him enough support from the other end. At 199, Smith wanted to guide the ball for a single but got trapped in front and was adjudged LBW by the umpire. It was a controversial decision as hawk-eye showed the ball would have missed the leg stump but nevertheless, Smith had to walk back to the dressing room and missed out on a brilliant double century.
The ninth name in the list is of an Indian youngster KL Rahul. Rahul has been one of the most profilix youngsters who has consistently performed over the years. It was the fifth and final test match in England’s Tour of India in late 2016 when KL Rahul opened the batting with Parthiv Patel in Chennai. England had posted a daunting 477 on the board with a hundred from Moeen Ali. The swashbuckling opener from Karnataka didn’t hold himself back and unleashed himself on the England bowlers. He was on 199 and India’s score was at 372/3 when Rahul attempted to cut the ball past the man at point and ended up edging it to Buttler who held on for a good catch.
The last name in the list is of Dean Elgar. Just like the current proteas captain Faf du Plessis recently, Elgar in the 2017 South Africa vs Bangladesh Test match at Potchefstroom, came agonizingly close to his maiden double century, falling just one run short as he was dismissed for 199. The left-handed Elgar, who had gone past his previous highest Test score of 140 looked set for a double century till an attempted pull shot against Shafiul Islam looped off a top edge to short midwicket. Elgar, meanwhile, became the first South African batsman, and 10th overall Test batsman to be dismissed for a score of 199.
