Watch the highlights of Australia vs New Zealand Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 2nd Final 1980/81 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the second final played between New Zealand and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne in 31st January 1981.
Bowlers attack before An unbeaten half-century from captain Greg Chappell steers to Australia comfortable seven-wicket victory over New Zealand and square the best-of-5-match finals with 1-1 in the second final of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
NEW ZEALAND scored 126 for all-out (46.4 Overs) with top scorer by Bruce Edgar 28 (56) and Richard Hadlee 16 (43)
Australia best bowler by Graeme Beard
2/20 (8.4) and Trevor Chappell 2/28 (10)
AUSTRALIA chased 130/3 (39.3 Overs) with top scorer by Greg Chappell * 58 (87) and Graeme Wood 32 (87)
New Zealand best bowler by Lance Cairns
1/23 (10) and Geoff Howarth 1/13 (4)
This match reported by Brian Mossop (Third Party Reference from SMH)
Australia, humbled by New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday, turned the tables at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today to square the $55,000 final of the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
Sent in to bat, the New Zealanders struggled for 46.4 overs to reach a total of 126 on a grey and uninviting looking Melbourne wicket. It took the Australians only 39.3 overs to overhaul the modest target, captain Greg Chappell leading the way with an unbeaten 58 after an even time partnership of 55 with Graeme Wood (32).
It was a sound recovery by Australia following their dismal showing in Sydney and must give them a tremendous boost on the eve of the third game of the best of five series at the MCG tomorrow.
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Today's win, to level the account at one match all, also ensures that there will be at least one more day-night match played in Sydney on Tuesday.
A crowd of 30,590 watched New Zealand budled out cheaply and the unusual sight of Len Pascoe, although in the team, not even called upon to exercise his arm.
The Australians lost only three wickets -Allan Border (19), Graeme Wood (32) and Kim Hughes (12) - in knocking over the required runs, Chappell sealing the result with an off-drive to the fence.
Any resemblance between the New Zealand innings in Sydney on Thursday and the one on the MCG's wasteland wicket today was purely a figment of vivid imagination.
So, too, was the Australian apparently disinterested in the first final of the series. the Australians today were as sharp as tacks in the field and equally determined when they batted.
The toss, won again by Chappell, gave Australia the most favourable conditions in which to bowl. It was overcast, the grassless wicket was damp from a soaking earlier in the week and the patchy outfield was slow.
The New Zealand batsmen were all at sea against a ball that moved in the air and off the pitch, and the minimal bounce saw Max Walker bowling to a slipless field in the sixth over of the day.
Left-hand opener Bruce Edgar put up the stiffest -resistance to tight Australian bowling lasting 98 minutes and facing 57 deliveries for the top score of 28. Edgar also shared a partnership of 32 with Mark Burgess, the only stand of any substance for New Zealand, before the vice-captain became the first of two run-out victims to dampen high-scoring hopes.
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