Who made the highest first-class score by an Indian abroad?
(17 May 2002)

The 1989 tour of the West Indies was not a good one for India. The Test series was lost 3-0, and the comprehensive domination of the Caribbean side over the tourists was woefully evident on the field. Amidst all the gloom, there were very few glimmers of comfort for the Indians, and Navjot Singh Sidhu's knock against Jamaica was one of them.

The tour match preceded the final Test at Sabina Park, and the Indians put themselves in, badly needing the batting practice. They succeeded to some extent. Sanjay Manjrekar and Ajay Sharma made 57 each and skipper Dilip Vengsarkar hit 111. The star of that first innings, however, was Sidhu.

Wielding his bat much as he wields words as a commentator now, Sidhu made 286 thundering runs, virtually carrying the Indian innings on his own to 586 in just 158.3 overs. The punishment meted out was reflected in the bowling figures, a sight for sore Indian eyes; four bowlers conceded over 100 runs each, and a fifth conceded 81.

Jamaica replied with 330 in 143 overs, restricted by Indian bowlers such as SK Sharma, who took 4-61. But the Indians were in no mood to enforce a follow-on, and their batsmen took the chance to get some more batting under their belt. It did not make a difference in the final Test; the West Indies won it by seven wickets, even though Sidhu made 116 in the first innings. India, however, could have used another 286 much more; that knock remains the highest first-class score made by an Indian abroad.

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