ICC Cricket World cup history
A thriller
The 1979 World Cup was not an advert for close finishes, unlike its predecessor which had two cliff-hangers, both involving the eventual champions West Indies. Here West Indies swept through the tournament in an even more dominant fashion than in 1975. England, the other team in the final, had to fight tooth and nail to put one over the Kiwis in the semifinal at Old Trafford on June 20.
The semifinal was an attritional affair, both sides boasting good quality seamers. England had an attack containing Ian Botham, Chris Old, Mike Hendricks and Bob Willis while New Zealand had a great bowler in Richard Hadlee, with capable backup provided by Lance Cairns, Gary Troup and Brian McKechnie, who was also the second highest wicket-taker (joint) in the tournament.
Put in to bat first, England were troubled by Richard Hadlee’s pace and movement on a seaming wicket. Boycott survived a difficult chance to wicketkeeper Warren Lees off the second ball he faced from Troup, but did not enjoy his luck for long as he fell for two in Hadlee’s fifth over. It was slow progress for a while as the other opener, captain Mike Brearley, with No 3 Wayne Larkin, saw off the new ball. Larkin fell soon for a 37-ball seven, and in strode Gooch at 38 for 2.
The rising star for England set about reestablishing the innings in a confident mood, building a 58-run partnership with his sedate captain. Brearley fell for a 114-ball 53 to leave England at 96 for three, soon to be 98 for four as Gower was beaten by a tremendous throw from extraordinarily-strong Cairns in the deep, run-out for two. Gooch and Botham then combined for a crucial 47-run partnership, with Botham contributing 21. Gooch’s 84-ball 71 ensured that England chugged along at a good pace, and when he was out at 177, the maverick Derek Randall took over, stroking a brisk, unbeaten 42 and taking England to a competitive 221 for 8 at the end of 60 overs.
New Zealand made a good fist of the chase, helped by a gritty 69 (off 137 balls) by the doughty left-hander John Wright. After an opening partnership of 47 off 16 overs, Chris Old had Bruce Edgar leg-before. Eleven runs later, England’s surprise weapon Geoff Boycott, bowling around the wicket had Geoff Howarth leg-before trying to sweep a full toss.
Coney combined with Wright for a 46-run partnership, but both fell within eight runs off each other, with Wright brilliantly run-out by Randall to leave the Kiwis at 112 for 4. Captain Mark Burgess fell in the same fashion twenty runs later, and when Hadlee left at 180 for 7, it was up to wicketkeeper Lees and the burly Cairns to take them home.
They did their best, with both striking huge sixes before falling to Hendricks. Left needing 14 from the last over, bowled by a limping Botham, numbers 10 and 11 could only manage four, and a brave effort from the New Zealand team went in vain.
