Relive a piece of cricketing history from December 17, 1981, when Rick Darling played his finest innings in One Day International cricket. In the 6th ODI at Sydney, the stylish Australian opener stood tall against Pakistan’s strong bowling attack.
Darling crafted a magnificent 74 runs off 100 balls in 124 minutes, hitting 6 elegant fours. While wickets kept tumbling at the other end, he anchored the innings with patience and class. Unfortunately, his knock ended in a run-out mix-up with Wellham, but not before he lifted Australia to a total of 222 runs.
This was Rick Darling’s highest score in ODI cricket, a shining moment in his short but memorable career. Pakistan eventually chased the target down to win by six wickets, but Darling’s innings remains a nostalgic reminder of the vintage 80s era of cricket.
👉 Watch and cherish Rick Darling’s superb knock — a rare gem from Australia vs Pakistan cricket history.
00:00In the summer of 1981, at the SCG ground, cricket fans witnessed a gripping battle between
00:06Australia and Pakistan in the sixth ODI of the series.
00:11The spotlight that day shone brightly on Australian opener Rick Darling, who produced a determined
00:17and stylish innings under pressure.
00:19Rick Darling crafted a well-composed 74 runs of 100 ball, spending over two hours at the
00:25crease with six crisp boundaries, he stood tall while chaos unfolded around him.
00:30So let's rewind the clock, watch Rick Darling classy knock and relive a slice of cricket history.
00:55And getting it back, two to Darling, so the Australians off the mark, in a pretty aggressive fashion.
01:00As things turned out, it was a safe shot, because Darling hit high over the inner ring of fieldsmen.
01:08And the candor on him straight away.
01:15Darling hitting that one straight down the ground, it was a slightly cross-back shot.
01:20Once again, looking for the third, settling for two.
01:31That's well played, beautiful shot.
01:34Darling hooking that away towards the square leg boundary, that one was just a little short,
01:38he wasted no time whatsoever, dispatching it to the boundary.
01:42Well wicked for 14.
01:50On the leg side, so Imran spraying it just a little.
01:54Darling quickly turns for two there and gets there, no trouble.
02:00That's the end of the over, no wicked for 29.
02:04And Syfarce Nawaz has pulled his average per over back a little bit.
02:08But Imran Khan was conceding almost four runs per over when he was rested.
02:14Well played.
02:16Beautiful shot.
02:18Darling there, latching onto that short one, hitting it way down to the deep end wicket boundary for four.
02:24Well he's played two beautiful hook shots out there today, and the crowd really appreciating it.
02:30Quite vociferous in their appreciation of that stroke in Darling.
02:40And again, that was hit very much in front of square, in spite of the fact that Darling was on the front foot.
02:46Now will they look for a second?
02:55Yes, it's quite easy in fact as Zahir has to move across to his right from mid on.
03:00So two more to Darling.
03:02He's now 27.
03:04One for 49.
03:08A strong drive of the ball.
03:11And he's pulled that.
03:12It really wasn't that short.
03:14And he got under it and hoiked it into the outfield.
03:18And that brings up the 50 with three to Darling.
03:24So Australia's 50 on the board in the 14th over.
03:28Darling moves off to 30.
03:32One for...
03:38Right down the ground.
03:40He really walloped that one.
03:43Rick Darling in great form here this morning.
03:47I'm very impressed with the attitude of Rick Darling too, Tony.
03:51One day Matt isn't prepared to throw that bat about a bit.
03:54It's a glorious shot.
03:56Little risk in it.
03:58He's in the air.
04:00He hit it extremely well.
04:02Straight down the ground.
04:03No chance whatsoever there.
04:05He's got that aggressive attitude.
04:07He hates being contained.
04:08Likes taking the game up to the bowler.
04:10That's going to be a wide call by umpire Johnson.
04:16Umpires this season have been very strict on the bouncer.
04:21And uh...
04:23That was really the reaction from Sikanda.
04:25But all he got was a wide call.
04:28Well he just cannot afford to be short.
04:38Rick Darling really puts it away very well.
04:41And that's four runs.
04:47Darling goes on to 46.
04:49And anything just marginally short.
04:53Tahir not fast enough to drop it in short.
04:56Trying to get a bit of bounce out of the wicket.
04:58His line and his length completely astray.
05:01Came back a bit better last over.
05:03But once again Rick Darling.
05:06Getting underneath it.
05:07And getting it over that infield.
05:14And again.
05:15Too short.
05:16And again.
05:17Four runs.
05:18So Tahir really expensive here.
05:21And I noticed his captain Javid Miendad at mid-wicket.
05:27Throw his hands up to his face with disgust at that delivery.
05:31That brings up the 50 for Rick Darling.
05:34Good shot.
05:36Hit it probably as well as any shot he's hit this morning.
05:39Right along the ground.
05:41Hit it very hard.
05:52And short again.
05:55And Darling unlucky not to get hold of that one.
05:57Because that was another very short delivery.
06:00He's gone to 51.
06:01The end of the over.
06:021,488.
06:04It's moving along very smoothly for the Australians.
06:07Only 37 minutes.
06:10Majid the bowler.
06:11Bowling off stump.
06:14To Darling.
06:15And in spite of that.
06:20Darling.
06:21Gets the ball away from off stump.
06:23Square on the leg side.
06:25As Safras.
06:26Scurries around.
06:27Can't prevent the second round being scored.
06:33The first 50 came up in 13 and a half overs in 60 minutes.
06:37The second 50.
06:39Came up.
06:40In.
06:41Only 7 and a half overs.
06:43And only 34 minutes.
06:44I'm not surprised when the bowlers sent down offerings such as that.
06:45Short.
06:46Oh no we'll get this absolutely slow.
06:47This is another lot of inexperienced Australian running.
06:48Oh no.
06:49Oh no.
06:50Oh no.
06:51Oh no.
06:52Oh no.
06:53Oh no.
06:54Oh no.
06:55Oh no.
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07:35Oh no.
07:36Oh no.
07:37Good throw by Safraz, Ashraf up there, Darling striving for the priest but in vain.
07:43Good piece of fielding by Safraz, another ridiculous call coming from the Australians.
07:50The end of Rick Darling has held the innings together for 74-4 for 132.
07:57Pakistan's all-rounder Mudassar Nazar rattled through the Australian middle order, leaving the host in trouble.
08:02But Rick Darling refused to give in, anchoring one end with grit and compoyer.
08:07Unfortunately, his knock came to a dramatic end, a run-out mix-up with Dirk Bellum that silenced the SCG crowd.
08:15Rick Darling's dismissal halted Australia's momentum, but his inning ensured they reached a competitive total of 222 runs.
08:24Yet that score proved inadequate.
08:27Pakistan brimming with confidence after their test victory at Melbourne just two days earlier.
08:32Chase downed the target with ease, winning by six wickets, their batting line-up showed twice, while Australia's bowler could not find the break-through they desperately needed.
08:42Rick Darling innings stood out a plent of patience, timing and responsibility at a time when his team needed him the most.
08:49Matches like these remind us why cricket from the 1980s carries such vintage charm.
08:55Rick Darling was one of those cricketers who carried both elegance and promise every time he walked out to the bat.
09:02A right-handed opener with a touch of flair, he quickly earned a reputation for being a stylish stroke-maker and an outstanding cover-fielder.
09:10His fielding alone was enough to lift the energy of his side, but it was his batting that caught the early attention of selectors.
09:18Darling's opportunity at the international stage came during the era of World Series cricket when vacancies opened up in the Australian side.
09:26He impressed with his fearless cutting and hooking strokes that reflected his natural confidence at the threes.
09:33For a young man, he showcased little fear against some of the fairest ballers of his time.
09:38Despite flashes of brilliance, his international career proved short-lived.
09:42By the time he was just 23 years old, his 14-test career had already come to an end.
09:49Rick Darling remains one of those names in Australian cricket, remembered for his style, promise and
09:54glimpses of what could have been if consistency had matched his talent.
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