Watch: Douglas Marillier became a household name in the 2000s after he nailed a series of scoop shots to give Zimbabwe a thrilling one-wicket win over India in Faridabad in 2002.
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No mention of Marillier is complete without a reference to the scoop shot. A year before he helped Zimbabwe pull off this heist against India, Marillier was in Australia, where he gained a cult status. Zimbabwe was in with a far-fetched shot at chasing down a steep target set by Australia in an ODI after a Stuart Carlisle hundred.
When Marillier walked in, Zimbabwe needed 14 off 7 balls, but more importantly, he was faced with a question that his mates had asked him off-field: how to tackle Glenn McGrath. Marillier had replied earnestly – or so he thought – with “I think I’ll probably sweep him” only to be laughed off by his mates.
Yet, that’s exactly what he did. 12 came off the five balls he faced – including two perfectly placed scoops for four off McGrath’s full-length balls – but with three needed off the last ball, he could only manage a single as Zimbabwe lost by a run.
A year later, Marillier, who had refrained from playing his scoop off the final ball in Australia after his non-striker’s advice, let it loose against India in another thrilling run-chase.
With 66 needed off 34 balls when he walked in, Marillier unleashed a series of his scoops to make 56 off 24 balls and take Zimbabwe home with two balls to spare.
Watch Marillier’s innings against India and the scoop shots here:
