April 25, 2007	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 07, 1428

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MANY people surely won’t remember much about the inaugural cricket World Cup which was played in the English summer of 1975 with eight teams participating.

Staged in glorious weather with none of the modern day gimmicks – such as coloured clothing, fielding restrictions and endless TV replays – existent in those good old days, the final was contested between West Indies and Australia at a full-house Lord’s on June 21.

Ian Chappell, the Australian captain, inserted West Indies into bat after winning the toss. For a while his decision seemed to have paid off as Roy Fredericks trod on his wicket after hooking Dennis Lillee out of the ground.

At 50 for three, the West Indies were struggling. But entered Clive Lloyd to strike a memorable 85-ball 102. The West Indies skipper, who hammered 12 fours and two sixes, completely overshadowed Rohan Kanhai in a partnership of 149 before he was fourth out. Kanhai’s last appearance in international cricket saw him score 55 off 105 balls.

Left-arm swing bowler Gary Gilmour was easily the pick of the Australian bowlers with five for 48 as West Indies eventually rattled up 291 for eight in 60 overs.

Australia committed hara-kiri when it was their turn to bat. Viv Richards outshone every one in the field with direct hits to get rid of Alan Turner and Greg Chappell and collaborated with Lloyd to run out Ian Chappell for 62.

Paceman Keith Boyce chipped in with key wickets to put West Indies on top.

Down and out at 233 for nine, Australia fought back through Jeff Thomson and Lillee before the fifth run-out of the innings eventually ended the match at 8.42pm.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES:

R.C. Fredericks hit wicket b Lillee 7

C.G. Greenidge c Marsh b Thomson 13

A.I. Kallicharran c Marsh b Gilmour 12

R.B. Kanhai b Gilmour 55

C.H. Lloyd c Marsh b Gilmour 102

I.V.A. Richards b Gilmour 5

K.D. Boyce c G.S. Chappell b Thomson 34

B.D. Julien not out 26

D.L. Murray c and b Gilmour 14

V.A. Holder not out 6

EXTRAS (LB-6, NB-11) 17

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 60 overs) 291

FALL OF WKTS: 1-12 (Fredericks), 2-27 (Kallicharran), 3-50 (Greenidge), 4-199 (Lloyd), 5-206 (Kanhai), 6-209 (Richards), 7-261 (Boyce), 8-285 (Murray).

DID NOT BAT: A.M.E. Roberts.

BOWLING: Lillee 12-1-55-1; Gilmour 12-2-48-5; Thomson 12-1-44-2; Walker 12-1-71-0; G.S. Chappell 7-0-33-0; Walters 5-0-23-0.

AUSTRALIA:

A. Turner run out 40

R.B. McCosker c Kallicharran b Boyce 7

I.M. Chappell run out 62

G.S. Chappell run out 15

K.D. Walters b Lloyd 35

R.W. Marsh b Boyce 11

R. Edwards c Fredericks b Boyce 28

G.J. Gilmour c Kanhai b Boyce 14

M.H.N. Walker run out 7

J.R. Thomson run out 21

D.K. Lillee not out 16

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-9, NB-7) 18

TOTAL (all out, 58.4 overs) 274

FALL OF WKTS: 1-25 (McCosker), 2-81 (Turner), 3-115 (G.S. Chappell), 4-162 (I.M. Chappell), 5-170 (Walters), 6-195 (Marsh), 7-221 (Gilmour), 8-231 (Edwards), 9-233 (Walker).

BOWLING: Julien 12-0-58-0; Roberts 11-1-45-0; Boyce 12-0-50-4; Holder 11.4-1-65-0; Lloyd 12-1-38-1.

RESULT: West Indies won by 17 runs.

UMPIRES: H.D. Bird and T.W. Spencer (both England).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Clive Lloyd.