Chanderpaul is not traditionally touted as a player who can bat in fifth gear. But before stereotyping the West Indian, maybe ask the Australians. On 10 April, 2003, the Steve Waugh-led side were in for a surprise as Chanderpaul blasted his way to a Test ton in just 69 deliveries at Bourda, which was then the third-fastest century of all time in the format.

Exactly five years later, on the same day, the West Indian battled influenza and a formidable Sri Lankan bowling attack with ease as he whipped up an amazing innings in an ODI at the Queen’s Park Oval. After skipper Chris Gayle won the toss and opted to field first, the Sri Lankans were in tatters as they were reduced to 49-5 in 15 overs, with Dwayne Bravo creating mayhem. His spell after five overs read 3-10, as he had sent back the big guns Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Chamara Kapugedara and Chamara Silva managed to steady the ship, though, with both getting crucial fifties. The former was unlucky to be dismissed on 95, but his innings helped the visitors post 235-7 on the board in 50 overs.

In reply, the Windies side got off to a flier, with Chris Gayle making merry. The introduction of Ajantha Mendis, however, turned the tide as the home team struggled for runs thereafter. From 109-2, the side slipped to 169-5, which soon became 219-9. Mendis was joined by pacer Nuwan Kulasekara as the duo wreaked havoc, picking up six wickets between them. The equation had boiled down to 13 off the last over, with Fidel Edwards taking strike in the first ball of the 50th over against Chaminda Vaas.

1st ball: Vaas attempted a yorker, Edwards sliced it through cover. No run.

2nd ball: Another yorker, which Edwards placed between point and cover. Single.

3rd ball: Chanderpaul on strike. The batsman drove a low full-toss hard to long-on but could not get a boundary. Single.

4th ball: Yet another yorker. Edwards shuffled across and drive Vaas to mid-wicket. Single.

5th ball: Vaas ran in only to send down an over-pitched delivery, which Chanderpaul smashed towards mid-off for a perfectly-timed four.

Last ball: The field changed for the last ball. The fine-leg was brought in, the long-off was pushed back. Amid all the nerves, Chanderpaul was his calm self, standing with the famous side-on stance. Vaas sent down a full-toss, which was smacked for a huge six as the commentators screamed, “Has it gone? It’s gone!”

What made the effort even more memorable was that Chanderpaul, who ended on 62*, has smashed a total of 90 sixes in all white-ball games for West Indies in 290 matches, including T20Is. His strike-rate of 70.74 in ODIs to go with a batting strike-rate of 98.84 in T20Is indicates that the West Indian is not the biggest hitter around, but his ability to adapt and give it his all with a last-ball six made the win all the more memorable.

Chanderpaul later quipped, “I prayed and prayed and asked God to give me the strength to hit that ball out of the ground. The plan was to fire as hard as I could”. And fire he did!

Watch the last-ball six by Chanderpaul against Sri Lanka here:

Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match awards, player interviews, analysis and much more.