Read the articles of Australia vs England 3rd ODI 1979 - England tour of Australia 5-match one-day international series of the 3rd ODI match played between England and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne in 24th January 1979.
Mike Hendrick's four-wicket haul and Ian Botham's and Ian Botham's three-for sets up to England easy seven-wicket victory over Australia and take a 1-0 lead in a one-sided game of the third ODI of a Benson and Hedges Gold Cup.
AUSTRALIA scored 101 for all-out (33.5 overs) with top scorer by Graeme Wood 28 (66) and Allan Border 11 (18)
England best bowler by Mike Hendrick 4/25 (8) and Ian Botham 3/16 (4.5)
ENGLAND chased 102/3 in (28.2 overs) with top scorer by Geoff Boycott* 39 (107) and Graham Gooch
Australia best bowler by Geoff Dymock 1/16 (6) and Rodney Hogg 1/20 (6)
This match reported by Brian Mossop (Third Party Reference from SMH)
England took a mortgage on the newly introduced international one-day cricket competition, the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup, at the MCG.
The limited-over match gave Australia a chance to salvage some prestige and gain a boost for the fifth Test which starts in Adelaide on Saturday.
But it was England who romped away with the game to pick up all the honours, including a cheque for $2,400.
Australia, having won the toss to have first use of a lifeless wicket, were bundled out for 101 after 33.5 of the permitted 40 overs.
It cost England only three wickets to reach the target of 102 with 11.6 overs to spare. There was much huff-puffing at England's decision to omit off-spinner Geoff Miller from the 12 and leave the spinner's duties in the hands of left-armer Phil Edmonds.
But it really did not matter. The pacemen did a thorough job against Australian batsmen who still lack the experience of one-day attitudes. Mike Hendrick notched 4-25 off his allotted eight overs and Ian Botham 3-16 off 4.5 ovcrs.
Graeme Wood and new opening partner Andrew Hilditch, began the innings with complete authority, mindful of the need to see the shine off the ball before plunging after the runs.
They had weathered almost 10 overs before Botham tempted Hilditch to chase a delivery outside the off-stump - a noticeable failing that the young New South Welshman will have to remedy if he is to succeed at the top.
Hilditch lasted 58 minutes and made 10 of the 27-run opening part-nership - a fair enough start to what should develop into many more 'inter-national appearances - before being caught by another first cap, English wicket-keeper, David Bairstow.
Allan Border, promoted to No 3 ahead of Kim Hughes, with Peter Toohey made 12th man, played several punishing shots in lifting the total past 50.
But a catch to mid-on to end Border's innings on 11 made it 2-52 Wood. who batted soundly, to top-score with 28. fell two runs later and the procession, so familiar a sight with Australia batting, had begun.
The total inched mercifully past 100 before the last victim fell. England were barely ruffled when Rodney Hogg flattened Mike Brearley's stumps, the England captain offering a disgraceful shot.
The match, as a foretaste of what to expect in the World Cup in England later this year, was not an encouraging appetiser for the Australians.
Mike Hendrick named Player of the match for his magnificent pace bowling attack to claimed a career-best 4-wickets for 25-runs in 8-overs including a maiden.
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