Watch the highlights of India vs New Zealand 7th Match Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 1980/81 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the 7th ODI match played between New Zealand and India at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane in 21st December 1980.
Gary Troup's four-wicket haul, Martin Snedden's three-for, John Wright, Jeremy Coney's forties and Lance Cairns' all-round display helped to New Zealand tense three-wicket victory over India, despite a Kapil Dev's quick-fire 51-ball 75 - Dilip Joshi's four-for in a low-scoring game of the seventh match of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
This match reported by Dicky Rutnagur (Third Party Reference from The Age)
New Zealand weathered a violent onslaught from Kapil Dev and probing spin bowling by Dilip Doshi to narrowly defeat India in the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup competition at the 'Gabba.
It won by three wickets, scoring the winning runs off the fourth ball of the final over. It owed much to Jeremey Coney and Lance Cairns who put on 49 for the eighth wicket to keep New Zealand in contention for a place in the finals.
India, which suffered Its second defeat in a row had Itself to blame after dropping five chances. none of them proving more disastrous than the escape allowed to Coney when he was 10. Coney, who had been the main target of Kapil Dev's barrage of cover and straight drives during the Indian innings, redeemed himself by playing a match winning innings of 47 not out, from 52 balls, with four 4s to help NZ reach its target of 205.
New Zealand has begun with a partnership of 67 by their two left-handed openers John Wright and Bruce Edgar, and yet. it found itself 130-5 and struggling for momentum.
India. in fact, was the favorite until the third last over, when Cairns, who remained unbeaten with 27, pillaged three 4s off Yograj Singh. Now New Zealand wanted only seven runs from the last two overs and the game was over.
The Indians, who won the toss and batted first, were compelled to make a last minute change to their side after Roger Binny aggravatcd a finger injury during net practice on Saturday. He was replaced by opening batsman Chetan Chauhan.
Although a regular member of the Test side for three years now. Chauhan has always been looked upon as too much of a plodder to be effective in limited-over cricket.
But today Chauhan. helped by a chance when he was only five, rendered invaluable service. contributing 46 runs. The top order of the Indian batting had fumbled badly on a pitch which allowed the pace bowlers to seam the ball.
Gavaskar was again a failure, caught in the slips off a ball from left-arrn Gary Troup that was angled across his body from over the wicket. As against Australia at Sydney, Vengsarkar plodded forward and edged to the wicket keeper.
Viswanath, playing across the line at the accurate Martin Snedden. was bowled and India was 52-3. Then India lost Chauhan and Yashpal Sharma while the score moved from 79 to 84.
India was being hopelessly outplayed. Even Sandeep Patti, whose slogging had kept India bouyant in its two previous wins, could not get going and a state of absolute desperation was reached when India had only reached 100-5 off 37 overs.
Hereabouts. Hadlee and Troup, New Zealand's main bowlers, ended their second spell and Cairns and Coney who came on to hold the fort, were mercilessly thrashed by Kapil Dev.
Coney's first over cost 21 runs, with Kapil Dev striking two 4s and a six over extra cover, of all places, and Patil glancing him for another boundary. In his next. Kapil straight-drove two 6s, off consecutive balls. The first landed halfway into the top tier of the Clem Jones Stand and the second, right up on its roof.
The good-humored Coney stood waving his white handkerchief in a gesture of mock surrender. India's total advanced by 119 runs during the 17 overs that Kapil held sway and although Doshi bowled so remarkably well afterwards and Coney nobly turned a hopeless cause into an exciting win, Kapil won the man of the match award from an all-Australian panel.
New Zealand's innings started with a curious incident. In delivering the very first ball, Yograj stumbled and fell and the impact catapaulted the ball out of his hands. It lay stationary beside him and Wright. taking a free swing at it, hit a four to square leg.
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