Read the article of England vs West Indies 9th Match Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 1979/80 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the 9th ODI match abandoned between West Indies and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sydney in 12th January 1980.
This match reported by Brian Mossop (Third Party Reference from SMH)
England "stormed" into the $50,000 final of the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup without a ball being bowled in anger in their match against West Indies at MCG.
The preliminary match was abandoned when torrential rain seeped under the covers after almost an inch had fallen in little more than an hour.
Bob Parish, chairman of time of the Australian Cricket Board and the match referee, announced shortly after the scheduled starting time of 10 am that the game had been abandoned and that England and West Indies would receive one point each.
The decision put England straight into the final with nine points from six games.
England, West Indies and Australia have now played six games each and with two games remaining West Indies have five points to Australia's four. Australia would have to win both of their remaining preliminary games and England would have to beat West Indies in Adelaide on Wednesday for Australia to sneak in.
Jackpot
Australia play England in Sydney on Monday and meet the West Indies, also in Sydney, in the last of the preliminary games on Friday. Clive Lloyd, captain of the West Indies who beat England to win the World Cup one day titles in England last year, was disappointed at today's wash out. "It's disappointing but it still makes it interesting," Lloyd said. "Unless Australia lose on Monday we have to win both games to make the final." Against a backdrop of a waterlogged MCG Parish also announced today the prizemoney of $5000 would jackpot to the next meeting between England and West Indies in Adelaide.
That means the teams will be playing for a total of $10,000 with $6,000 going to the winner, $3,000 to the loser and $1,000 to the man of the match.
Despite today's washout, the Australian Cricket Board has been fortunate this season in being able to complete all eight of the previous one-day games.
Last summer only three games were played between Australia and England for the Benson and Hedges Cup and all three were rain affected.
:
