Watch the highlights of Australia vs West Indies 1st Match Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 1979/80 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the 1st ODI match played between West Indies and Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney in 27th November 1979.
Len Pascoe's four-wicket haul, Allan Border and Dennis Lillee's combined 5-wickets before Half-centuries from captain Greg Chappell and vice-captain Kim Hughes leads to Australia thrilling five-wicket victory over world champions West Indies in the opening match of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
WEST INDIES scored 193 for all-out (49.3 overs) with top scorer by Alvin Kallicharran 49 off 94-balls - who fell one-run short of his half-century - including 4-fours and Collis King 29 (32)
Australia best bowler by Len Pascoe claimed a career-best 4/29 (9.3) and Allan Border 3/36 (10)
AUSTRALIA chased 196/5 (47.1 overs) with top scorer by Greg Chappell* 74 (100) and Kim Hughes 52 (60)
West Indies best bowler by Colin Croft 2/30 (10) and Viv Richards 2/47 (10)
This match reported by Brian Mossop (Third Party Reference from SMH)
Greg Chappell proved himself the prince of batsman as he led Australia to a thrilling win against West Indies in the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
Greg Chappell's gamble of putting the West Indies in on a placid wicket paid off when Australia dismissed the one-day champions for 193.
The Australian captain then treated the crowd of 21,168 to a display of superb batting that carried him to an unbeaten 74 as Australia reached 5-196 with 17 deliveries remaining.
Greg Chappell was at his brilliant best as he drove, pulled and glanced his way to the $500 man-of-the-match award and a gold medallion.
The win gave Australia first blood on the eve of the first Test in Brisbane.
The West Indians were not happy with the result. Their dressing room door was smashed off its hinges and captain Clive Lloyd pleaded an injured knee in defence of his refusal to attend the presentation ceremony.
Whatever the tourists' feelings, it was Chappell's night. But he could not have done it without the splendid support of vice-captain Kim Hughes.
Australia were in trouble after losing Rick McCosker (1), Bruce Laird (20) and Allan Border (17) for 52. But a 92-run partnership between Chappell and Hughes in 68 minutes paved the way for victory and eliminated the last traces of division between the establishment and World Series Cricket.
Hughes, until recently Australia's Test captain, hit a fine 52 in an innings full of authority. It underlined the poise and maturity that has come into his game.
There could not have been a more fitting pair to mount the rescue operation and set Australia on the winning path.
Chappell began his innings by twice playing at lanky paceman Colin Croft and missing - the second time drawing a lusty appeal from Croft for a catch behind. It was probably that refusal which soured the West Indians.
But when Chappell stepped down to the third delivery from Croft to bang a straight drive to the fence, the tone was set for the rest of his innings.
Neither Chappell nor Hughes blanched in the face of the West Indies speed battery and it was hard to believe from the way Hughes attacked the bowling that he has just come from the slow wickets and spin bowlers of India.
Ironically. Hughes fell to off-spin bowled by Viv Richards. who repeated the dose three deliveries later by bowling left-hander David Hookes (01).
Both wickets fell with the total 144 and Australia faltered with five wickets down. But Rod Marsh (not out 18) stayed with his captain until Chappell pulled the winning boundary.
The West Indians had a depleted attack after Collis King had to return to his hotel after batting, suffering rom a severe sinus infection. But with Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Colin Croft and Joel Garner to spear-head the bowling, they lost little.
The only fight of the West Indian innings came from Alvin Kallicharran, who made 49 before becoming one of three Allan Border victims.
Len Pascoe, the fast bowler who came in to the Australian side as a replacement for the injured Jeff Thomson, bowled well to finish as the most successful Australian bowler with 4-29 off 9.3 overs.
Australia's win earned the team $3,000 and the West Indies picked up $1,500.
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