Watch the highlights of Australia vs England Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 1st Final 1987 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the first final played between England and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne in 08th February 1987.
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| Ian Botham hitting a shot © Cricket Australia / Channel 9 |
Graham Dilley and Phil DeFreitas' combined 5-wickets before A thrilling exhibition of power hitting display from Ian Botham's 52-ball 71 and David Gower's 45 to give England an effortless six-wicket victory over Australia and take a 1-0 lead in the first best-of-three finals of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
Australia scored 171-8 in the alloted 44 overs with top scorer by Dean Jones struck 67 off 107-balls including six boundaries.
Allan Border scored 42 off 85-balls including a boundary and Greg Ritchie 13.
England best bowler by Graham Dilley picked up 3-wickets for 32-runs in 9-overs including two maidens, Phil DeFreitas took 2-wickets and one for John Emburey - Neil Foster.
England chased 172-4 in 36 overs with top scorer by Ian Botham blasted a 71 off 52-balls including 11-fours & a six with strike rate of 136.53.
David Gower hit 45 off 47-balls including 6-fours and Allan Lamb 15 not out.
Australia best bowler by Greg Matthews picked up 3-wickets for 27-runs in 9-overs including a maiden and Bruce Reid took one-wicket.
This match reported by Mike Coward (Third Party Reference from SMH)
It is surprising to learn that the redoubtable Ian Botham has not scored a century in one-day cricket. One would have thought the game's legislators and their bankers had Botham and his ilk in mind when they added the frenetic pastime to the international calendar in 1971.
With his mate Viv Richards, who has thrashed eight limited-over hundreds, Botham is the most powerful batsman in world cricket.
In Botham's defence, it must be said there are limited opportunities to score a hundred from No 6. Last week, England captain Mike Gatting acknowledged that fact by promoting Botham to open the innings with Chris Broad. Yesterday, at the MCG, Gatting's decision was wholly justified.
While Botham did not score a century, he gave the crowd of 51,589 a thrilling exhibition of power hitting to give England an effortless victory against Australia in the first of the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup finals.
With a minimum of fuss and a maximum of daring, he smote 71 from 52 balls with 11 fours and a six.
Requiring just 172 runs from 44 overs proceedings were shortened after an hour was lost to early morning drizzle - England won by six wickets with eight overs in hand.
They now have a priceless opportunity to win their third title for the season. They already hold the Ashes and Benson and Hedges Challenge trophy.
Unless the Australians can regain the form which enabled them to win their last four qualifying matches, England will add the WSC to the list in Sydney on Wednesday night. And no England team have returned to the Old Dart with both the Ashes and the WSC in their keeping.
Judging by their jaunty, intensely competitive and professional showing yesterday, the idea has considerable appeal to each of them. If they have their way, they will not be returning to Melbourne on Friday for a third final.
The Australians, who were seeking to win five consecutive matches for the first time in limited-over competition, batted badly, particularly in the last 10 overs when they lost 5-37.
After a disastrous start when sent in against the seaming ball they were two wickets for three in the second over Dean Jones and Allan Border added 103 from 169 balls in a sensible and spirited third-wicket stand.
At 2-106 in the 28th over, Australia seemed assured of a competitive score of about 200. However, it was not to be as the English bowlers turned the screws. Jones, who has now scored a stunning 1,121 runs in Tests and limited-over internationals this summer, finished with 67 from 107 balls and Border, making his 150th appearance, 42 from 85 balls.
Botham determined the outcome very promptly.
Frustrated at scoring only one half century in 12 previous one-day games this season - 68 from 35 balls against Australia in Perth - he simply stood and delivered as only he can.
He took 10 runs from 13 deliveries from Simon Davis, 22 from 13 by Simon O'Donnell, 19 from nine by Bruce Reid - who was reinstated at the expense of Dirk Wellham and 20 from 16 by Stephen Waugh.
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When Botham acknowledged the torrent of applause for his 50, Broad who failed by seven to reach 1,000 Test and international one-day runs for the season - was on seven.
Eventually Botham fell for 71 when he endeavoured to deposit Greg Matthews' first ball into the southern stand. He only just failed, being caught by Geoff Marsh at long-off.
By just one run he had failed to match his best return in this type of cricket, achieved against Australia at Old Trafford, Manchester, in 1985.
As Gatting said: "It was vintage Botham. He won the day."
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