Australian pace bowlers Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson were poor in the opening match of this group and needed a much better performance if Australia were to have any chance of qualification.
Match Report
When Clive Lloyd's 1970s West Indians did their demolition job on a talented ROW side in South Africa, Greg Chappell could be forgiven for perhaps feeling trepidous about Australia's task in Bridgetown. But crucially the Australia captain won the toss and chose to bat on a fair paced pitch.
Chappell was involved in 1 of 2 sizeable partnerships on day 1, 166 for the 2nd wicket with Rick McCosker. The latter then added 137 in good time with Walters (73) as the visitors closed the 1st day on 324-4. Nearly 3 hours play were lost to thunderstorms on day 2 but that could not take the gloss off a monumental innings from McCosker, 235 in 602 mins. West Indies pace battery toiled for 2 days, but Holding was excellent in taking 4-67.
Faced with 480 and a declaration, the home side lost 2 cheap wickets in indifferent light before the end of day 2. The Kensington Oval pitch was showing signs of uneven bounce on day 3, and West Indies were dismissed for a disappointing 209 with Lillee and Thomson snaring 4 wickets apiece.
Following on, there were a steady flow of West Indian wickets on day 4. Kallicharran and Lloyd lightened the mood of the partisan crowd with a stand of 90 from 130 for the 4th wicket, but when Lillee beat Lloyd for pace & disturbed his stumps the end was nigh.
An innings victory inside 4 days was testament to a very good Australian team performance. And while the Bajan cricket fans might have lamented West Indian shortcomings, they generously applauded and appreciated MOM McCosker's performance.
West Indies 1970s: RC Fredericks, CA Davis, AI Kallicharran, LG Rowe, CH Lloyd (c), DL Murray (w), DR Parry, AME Roberts, MA Holding, CEH Croft, WW Daniel
Australia 1970s: KR Stackpole, RB McCosker, GS Chappell (c), KD Walters, R Edwards, RW Marsh (w), MHN Walker, DK Lillee, AA Mallett, JR Thomson, G Dymock
Australia 1970s 1st Innings 480-8d (130.4 Ov)
RB McCosker 235, KD Walters 73, GS Chappell 71, MA Holding 4-67, AME Roberts 2-84, CEH Croft 2-96
West Indies 1970s 1st Innings 209-10 (93 Ov)
LG Rowe 71, DR Parry 44, CH Lloyd 26, DK Lillee 4-29, JR Thomson 4-62
West Indies 1970s 2nd Innings 216-10 (74.1 Ov)
AI Kallicharran 57, CH Lloyd 53, DL Murray 27, MHN Walker 2-27, KD Walters 2-29, DK Lillee 2-38
Australia 1970s won by an Innings and 15 runs
Man of the Match: RB McCosker
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