India’s Sunil Gavaskar became the first batter in history to score two centuries in a Test match thrice during a Test match against West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on January 2, 1979. The opening batter scored 107 and 182 respectively in a drawn Test match against the Windies in Kolkata, becoming the first batter in history to achieve the feat of scoring two centuries in a match thrice.
Batting first, India posted 300 in the first innings, with Gavaskar top scoring with 107 runs. Apart from him, Kapil Dev scored 61 runs, while Dilip Vengsarkar got out after scoring 42 runs. For West Indies, Norbert Phillip registered figures of 4/64, while Derick Parry took three, and Sylvester Clarke, Malcolm Marshall, and Vanburn Holder scalped a wicket each. In reply, West Indies posted 327 taking a lead of 27 runs in the first innings.
Sunil Gavaskar scored 182 in second innings to achieve a historical feat
For West Indies, Basil Williams top scored in the first innings with 111 runs while skipper Alvin Kallicharran played a captain’s knock of 55 runs. Apart from that, Sew Shivnarine and Norbert Phillip contributed 48 and 47 respectively. For India, Srinivas Venkataraghavan registered figures of 4/55. Apart from that, Karsan Ghavri scalped three, Kapil Dev scalped two while Bishan Bedi put one in his bag.
In the second innings, Sunil Gavaskar shone again with a knock of 182 runs. Along with him, Dilip Vengsarkar also scored 157 runs as India declared on 361 runs losing one wicket. With this knock, Gavaskar scored two centuries in a Test match three times in his career, becoming the first player in history to achieve the feat. Chasing a target of 335 runs, West Indies were 197/9 before the match ended in a draw. David Murray top scored with 66 runs. For India, Karsan Ghavri took four wickets, Srinivas Venkataraghavan scalped three, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Bishan Bedi scalped a wicket each.
