West Indies too powerful

Press, 25 June 1979, Page 36

West Indies too powerful

NZPA London The powerful West Indies confirmed their title as kings of one-day cricket with their blockbusting 92-run win over England in the Prudential World Cup final at Lord’s yesterday. The West Indians stormed to the huge total of 286 for nine, nearly half of it coming from the brilliant Antiguan, Viv Richards, who was 138 not out, then emphatically swept aside any English pretensions of matching their magical run-scoring. England made a healthy start, Mike Brearley and Geoff Boycott getting the score to 129 before a wicket fell, but then the big fast bowler, Joel Gamer, brought about one of the most dramatic collapses ever to be seen on the revered ground. From 183 for three, England was jolted to 186 for six and then 194 all out. Gamer was twice on a hattrick within 15 minutes, his figures undergoing a stunning transformation from none for 36 to five for 38. He took three wickets in six balls, four in 10, and finally, five in 11, to dash the hopes of any upstart English-

man who thought that perhaps yesterday might have been the day that the mighty West Indians would be tumbled. Richards was made man of the match but it could easily have been Gamer. Combined, the two were unbeatable. England’s supporters may have been forgiven for thinking after the best opening stand their team had put on in the competition, that an upset was in prospect. When Brearley, who made 64, and Boycott (57) were out, England still had a chance of winning but needed about seven runs an over to match the formidable West Indian total. It was the chase for runs that was England’s undoing. Graham Gooch and Derek Randall had a handy partnership but it was still too slow — they were needing to score nearly two runs off every ball — and when they tried to force the pace, the potency of the West Indian bowling became apparent. The class batsmen. David Gower and lan Botham, were both out trying big hits before they got themselves set, Botham being dismissed thanks to a brilliant running,

over-the-shoulder catch in the outfield by Richards. The newcomer, Wayne Larkins, played all over Garner and was bowled first ball and that was the end of England’s recognised batsmen and the end of the dream that perhaps the West Indies would not retain the cup they won first in 1975.

Richards was the mainstay of the West Indian innings, but Collis King’s swift 86 at better than a run a ball was the most entertaining. King hit three sixes and 10 fours in his 86 to accelerate the West Indian scoring and batter the England bowlers into submission.

Without Bob Willis, England’s attack was hampered but in the mood that King was in, Willis may not have made much difference. It was just as well that Richards was back in a runscoring mood and that the utility player, King, was at his most belligerent. No other West Indian batsman could get on top of the bowling and after King, the next best score was a patient 20 by the opener, Desmond Haynes. The West Indian tail was like the England tail — it had no wag. The last four West

Indians, like four of the last five Englishmen, all went without scoring. WEST INDIES G. Greenidge run out .. 9 D, Haynes c Hendrick b Old 20 V, Richards not out .. .. 138 A. Kallicharan b Hendrick .. 4 C. Lloyd c and b Old .. 13 C. King c Randall b Edmonds 86 D. Murray c Gower b Edmonds 5 A, Roberts c Brearley b Hendrick 0 J. Garner c Taylor b Botham 0 M. Holding b Botham .. 0 C. Croft not out .. .. 0 Extras (1611) .. .. 11 Total for 9 wickets 286 Fall: 22, 36, 55, 99, 238, 252, 258, 260, 272. Bowling.—l. Botham 12, 2, 44, 2; M. Hendrick 12, 2, 50, 2; C. Old 12, 0, 55, 2; G. Boycott 6,0, 38, 0; P. Edmonds 12, 2, 40, 2; G. Gooch 4,0, 27, 0; W. Larkins 2, O, 21, 0. ENGLAND M. Brearley c King b Holding 64 G. Boycott b Holding .. 57 D. Randall b Croft ~ .. 15 G. Gooch b Garner .. .. 32 D. Gower b Garner .. ■■ 0 I. Botham c Richards b Croft 4 W. Larkins b Garner .. 0 P. Edmonds not out .. 5 C. Old b Garner 0 B. Taylor c Murray B. Garner 0 M. Hendrick b Croft .. .. 0 Extras (lbl2, w2, nb3) .. 17 Total 194 Fall: 129, 135, 183, 183, 186, 186. 188. 192, 192. Bowling.—Roberts 9,2, 33, 0; M. Holding 8. 1, 16, 2; Croft 10, 1, 42. 3; J. Gamer 11, 0, 38, 5; V. Richards 10. 0. 35, 0; C. King 3,0, 13, 0.