Read the articles of Australia vs England 5th ODI 1979 - England tour of Australia 5-match one-day international series of the 5th ODI match played between England and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne in 07th February 1979.
Bowlers sets up to Australia comfortable seven-wicket victory over England and clinch the historic five-match series with 2-1 in a low-scoring game of the fifth ODI of a Benson and Hedges Gold Cup.
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Australia's establishment cricket team scored it's most significant 6-wickets victory over England in the Benson and Hedges Cup match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which was the first-ever 5-match one-day international series.
This win not only gave Australia its first substantial advantage over England that time, but also boosted it's prospects for engagement in the near future.
The morale from Australia winning the Benson and Hedges Cup 5-match series with 2-1 will be of enormous value against England in the Test that time.
And Australia captain Graham Gallop was quick to point out that it would serve the team well in its two Test series against Pakistan next month that year.
As well Australia now can go into the second World Cup in June that year 1979 with more confidence.
For once, victory was achieved with consummate ease after Graham Yallop won the toss and invitated England into bat first.
It was the seventh time in eight clashes in the 1979 season that England captain Mike Brearley has called incorrectly against the Australian captain Graham Yallop.
On an Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) pitch that provided inordinately high bounce the England batsman failed and were dismissed for 94 all-out in 37.7 overs, which was the 8-balls-over match.
Only Mike Brearley provided much opposition with an innings of 46 off facing 114 deliveries including three 4s and a 5s, which was the first five-runs as an overthrow.
The five runs came in extraordinary circumstances, it would have been six had wicketkeeper David Bairstow made his ground against a Kim Hughes throw to bowler Gary Cosier.
Mike Brearley had pulled Gary Cosier wide through mid-wicket and run five as an overthrow from Geoff Dymock went to Kim Hughes backing up in the gully, As he and Bairstow ran another, Hughes throw to Cosier beat the air-borne batsman by a fraction.
It appeared a mistake in calling by Mike Brearley but did not match up to the other mistakes made by England batsmen.
Geoff Boycott made only 2-runs before he failed to contain a rising Geoff Dymock delivery and was caught in the gully by Gary Cosier.
Derek Randall (0) was out to the next delivery as he played defensively at a Groff Dymock out-swinger and he was caught out by Kim Hughes took a juggling catch at first slip.
The Queensland left-hander Geoff Dymock had then taken 2-3, figures and breakthrough good enough to win him the $400 Player of the match award.
From then, the England batting never regained its equilibrium, Graham Gooch (4) was caught out by Kim Hughes at first slip off Alan Hurst and last match Sunday's century-maker David Gower (3) fell to a catch by Graeme Wood at gully off Alan Hurst.
Hard-hitter Ian Botham hit three fours before he attempted a fourth from Gary Cosier and edged the ball into his stumps, David Bairstow (3) was run out and Mike Brearley (46), Phil Edmonds (15), John Lever (1) and Bob Willis (2) fell without much bother after lunch.
Gary Cosier, 3-22 from seven overs spell held the bowling honors, although the inroads made by Geoff Dymock 2-21 and Alan Hurst 2-7 in the early batting were more important.
Australian opener Rick Darling and Graeme Wood then smashed whatever slim hope England had, Australia opener hit 29-runs off only 4.6 overs, despatching with ease some lack-lustre bowling by Bob Willis and Mike Hendrick.
The England bowlers lacked through and directions in their attack although their task was severe.
Rick Darling (14) was caught out by Mike Brearley off Bob Willis's slower ball and Kim Hughes (0) went the same way with the total only 37.
Graeme Wood reached a competent 30 off faced 38 deliveries, before he was caught out by David Bairstow driving catch off Ian Botham and Australia captain Graham Yallop scored 25 off 69-balls, before lost his off-stump as he tried to force John Lever.
It was left to Peter Toohey 16 not out and Gary Cosier 8-runs not out to reach the target of 95 in 25.5 overs.
The Australian won $2400 and the right to call the $11,500 Benson and Hedges Gold Cup their own for a few months.
The Englishmen for the first time on tour achieved little, They looked tired and disinterested although Mike Brearley said he was disappointed in the result "Mike Brearley wanted to win everything possible".
* This modified Article reference from (T.A) Author by Peter McFarline
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