Watch the highlights of Australia vs England 8th Match Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 1979/80 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the 8th ODI match played between England and Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney in 26th December 1979.
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| Geoff Boycott takes the applause after his match-winning 86* © ESPNcricinfo Ltd |
Geoff Boycott's unbeaten 86 and Peter Willey's well-made half-century steers to England crushing four-wicket victory over Australia, despite a Chappell Brother's fifties - fast bowler Rodney Hogg's four-wicket haul and move to top of the points table in a rain interrupted game of the eighth match of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
AUSTRALIA scored 194/6 (47 Overs) with top scorer by Ian Chappell * 60 (50) and Greg Chappell 52 (82)
England best bowler by Ian Botham 2/33 (9) and Graham Dilley 1/32 (10)
ENGLAND chased 195/6 (45.1 Overs) with top scorer by Geoff Boycott * 86 (134) and Peter Willey 51 (77)
Australia best bowler by Rodney Hogg 4/46 (10) and Len Pascoe 2/28 (10)
This match reported by Brian Mossop (Third Party Reference from SMH)
England overcame Chappell, a streaker, speedway noise, and the thunderous explosion of fireworks from the next door Show-ground to book, virtually, a place in the final of the $110,000 Cup series Needing 195 runs in 47 overs of a rain-interrupted match.
England faltered briefly when fast bowler Rodney Hogg captured 3-7 to start a slump that saw the tourists lose 27-5. But Yorkshiremen Geoff Boycott, the man-of-the-match, and David Bairstow steered England home by four wickets. Bairstow cracked the winning runs with 1.5 overs to spare to take England to 195-6 in reply to Australia's 194-6.
Boycott, enjoying a remarkable run of success as a one-day batsman, batted throughout the innings to finish with an unbeaten 86 after sharing a 111-run second wicket partnership with Peter Willey (51). It was that partnership that paved the way for England's win to leave them with eight points from five of the eight preliminary matches and set them up for a place in the three-match final worth $50,000.
Australia, with just four points from six matches, have practically no hope of reaching the cup final ahead of the West Indies, who have four points from five matches. England. batting for the first time under lights, proved that it will take bigger handicaps than that to down them at the one-day game.
Play was held up: while Greg Chappell, the Australian captain, grabbed the long hair of a streaker clad only in a yellow t-shirt and marched him across the field to two waiting policemen; England's batsmen ran through clouds of smoke as multi - coloured fireworks exploded next door; a noise of speedway bikes and cars was deafening at times.
It was hardly cricket, but it was all good fun for the Boxing Day crowd of 21,290, and England overcame it all. Boycott and Willey capitalised on a 41-run opening stand in which Graham Gooch made 29 and set up the win by carrying the total to 152 before Willey was bowled by Len Pascoe in the 36th over.
Despite the middle order collapse that gave Australia a brief glimmer of hope, England never really looked like going down.
The Australian innings began in its customary fashion - badly. Having chosen to bat first, Australia lost openers Julien Weiner (2) and Bruce Laird (6), both Ian Botham victims, to be 2-21 after nine overs.
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