Watch the highlights of Australia vs West Indies 6th Match Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 1979/80 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the 6th ODI match played between West Indies and Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney in 21st December 1979.
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| Ian Chappell plays a hook shot © SMH / REUTERS |
The return of Ian Chappell's unbeaten half-century before Bowlers and Dennis Lillee's four-for helped to Australia narrow 7-run victory over West Indies, despite a West Indies scored 112 for 2 and keep alive their campaign in a low-scoring thriller of the sixth match of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
AUSTRALIA scored 176/6 (50 Overs) With top scorer by Ian Chappell * 63 (65) and Rod Marsh 33 (54)
West Indies best bowler by Andy Roberts 1/28 (10) and Michael Holding 1/33 (10)
WEST INDIES scored 169 for all-out (42.5 Overs) With top scorer by Viv Richards 62 (79) and Gordon Greenidge 33 (53) and Dennis Lillee 4/28 (8.5) and Geoff Dymock 2/28 (10)
This match reported by Brian Mossop (Third Party Reference from SMH)
"Thank God for Ian" read the sign on the Paddington Hill at the SCG. Intended as a welcome for the return of Chappell the elder to the Australia cricket team, it was also prophetic.
Ian, maligned and under a suspended six-week sentence for bat throwing, tantrums, and arguing with umpires, obviously had something to prove, And he took to the West Indian attack as only he can —with a great deal of aggression, hammering 63 not out of 65 deliveries in the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup match to compile the backhone of Australia's winnning total of 176-6 off 50 overs.
Australia scrapped home by seven runs after scoring a modest 176-6 and then dismissing the West Indies for 169. The West Indies, coastiing along at 112-2 in the 27th over. appeared well on the way to victory.
But the World Cup champions lost their last eight wickets with the addition of just 57 runs to crash to their third defeat in four matches of the $110,000 series.
Despite the win. Australia have the job in front of them to reach the best-of-three finals. They have won two of their five games in the preliminary rounds. England are clear leaders with three wins from three matches.
This night win, however, came night win, however. came out of the blue and Ian Chappell was named the man-of-the-match to rub into the Australian selector's, who have over-looked him for the next two Tests.
But it was left arm seam bowler Geoff Dymock. Australia's hero in the first Test win against England in Perth, who set the West Indies up for the kill by claiming the wickets of Viv Richards (62) and captain Clive Lloyd (0) with successive balls.
From a seemingly impossible position the Australians rallied superbly. Greg Chappell used his bowlers judiciously to restrict
the runs and keep the wickets tumbling. By the time Dennis Lillee started the 43rd over of the, innings, the West Indies needed only eight runs to win with two wickets in hand. But Lilee had Joel Garner caught at slip for two and then bowled Michael Holding for a duck to wind up the game and finish with 4-28 of 8.5 ovcrs.
The result was more than Australia had a right to expect after being sent in by Lloyd and struggling to maintain a respectable run rate.
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