Late sport Boycott leads England to victory

Press, 27 December 1979, Page 4

Late sport Boycott leads England to victory

NZPA Sydney Englands opening batsman, Geoft Boycott, ignored fireworks, smoke and ear-splitting noise from an adjacent speedway meeting at Sydney yesterday to lead his side to a four wickets win over Australia in their 47 overs a side night match. The 39-year-old Boycott, batting under floodlights for the first time in a match, hit an unbeaten 86 in England’s winning total of 195 for six in 45.1 overs made in reply to Australia's score of 194 for six. The win almost certainly assures England of a place in the World Series Cun final giving it four wins from the five matches it has played so far, compared to Australia's two wins from six matches and the West Indies’ two wins from fivematches. Each team plays eight games.) the top two sides meeting in a three-match final at the end of I January. Australia can still level England’s points total but. the touting side already has a far better run rate that would get it into 1 the. final even if it lost its 1 remaining three games. The Australian captain, Greg Chappell, won the toss and decided to bat on a wicket that played easily. England's bowlers stuck to their task well and contained Australia to 64 for three after 25 overs on a wicket that was good for batting. The Australian run rate only picked up in a 59 fourth-wicket partnership between the captain. Chappell, and the vice-captain. Kim Hughes, that took the score to 109 for four in the thirty-third over when Hughes was bowled by the fast bowler, Bob Willis. Chappell was joined by his controversial older brother, lan, and the\ added another 24 runs in quick time before Greg Chappell was run out for a fine 52. lan Chappell went on to top score with 60 not out as well as joining the equally incidentprone. Dennis Lillee, tn baiting England’s captain. Mike Brearley. over two missed run-out attempts. Each time Brearley was in volved in the attempted run out J he was applauded by lan Chappell and Lillee for his mis-; takes However, while Australia had; the brothers Chappell. England had the consistent scoring Boy-, cott who won his second “Man of the Match” award with his three hours and a half innings. . Boycott and Graham Gooch got l

England off to a good atari scoring 41 before Gooch was ' bowed l.b.w. for 29 in tho eleventh over. England kept the score moving at the required run rate of nearby 4.5 an over with a lit partnership between Boycolt and Peter Willey, who scored 51 before he was bowled bv Len Pascoe. After Willey’s dismissal there was a brief collapse by Englai. which lost fdur more nickels for only 22 runs, with Dav 1 Gower. Derek Randall, lan Botham and Brearley all being out to rash strokes. However, the steady Bov colt .held the innings together and (with his fellow Yorkshireman, David Bairstow. aaw the touring side to victory with 1.5 ove.s still remaining. Boycott has been in masterly form since coming into Inland's one-day team only because ' of injury. In his last eight innings Including yesterdays effort Boycott lias scored 101 not out. Illi, 63 not out. 68 in a limited-over | game against Australia. 105 in another limited-over game against Australia, nought and 99 not out In the first test last week, and 68 in a limitedover game against the West Indies. AUSTRALIA B. M. Laird b Botham 6 J. M. Wiener c Bairstow b Botham 2 ■A. R. Border e Gower b Goocli 7.2 G. S. Chappell run out 52 K. J. Hughes b Willis 28 I. M- Chappell not out 60 R. W. Marsh c Bairstow b Dillev 10 ID. K. Lillee not out 2 Extras Ib3, IblO. nb4) 17 Total (for 6 wlcketsi 194 Fall: 5, 21. 50. 109 1 33. 179 Bowling—Dilley. 10. 1, 32. M Botham. 9. 1, 33. 2; Willis. 10, 1, 38 1; Underwood. 10. 2. 36. 0; Gooch, 8. 0. 38, 1. ENGLAND G. A Gooch lbw b Hogg 2# G. Boycott not out so P Willey b Pascoe 5! D. I. Gower e Marsh b Hogg 3 D. W. Randall c G. Chappell b Pascoe •IL T Botham lbw b Hogr 6 IJ. M. Brearley e Marsh b Hogg ’D. I Bairstow not nut 7 Extras llbl. wl, nblD . 13 Total (for 6 wicketsi 191 •I Fall: 41, 152. 157. 170, 179 179, Bowling—Lillee. 10. 0. 47, 0| ; I Pascoe. 10. 2. 28. 2; Hogg. 10, 10 4W 4: Dvmoek 10. 1. 38, 0; G, J Chappell, 5.1, 0, 23, 0.