Clive Lloyd - the Windies skipper gave World Cup Cricket the 'kick start'

By A. C. De Silva

CRICKET WORLD CUP: The 2011 edition of the World Cup Cricket tournament is over, but it would be interesting to take one's thoughts back to the first edition of the Prudential World Cup Cricket Tournament organised by the International Cricket Council from June 7 to 21 in 1975 in England.

The great interest of the cricket lovers to see the matches helped the organisers to rake in 188,598 Sterling Pounds from the sale of tickets alone.

There were eight countries that participated. They were divided into two groups: "A" group has England, New Zealand, India and East Africa. In group 'B' were: Australia, West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. All the countries except Sri Lanka and East Africa had Test status at the tournament.

The first final of the Prudential World Cup was played on June 21, 1975 at the historic Lord's grounds in London - West Indies vs Australia where there was a crowd of 26,000 to watch the pulsating final.

Australian skipper Ian Chappell won the toss, but sent the West Indians to bat first. Roy Fredericks and Gordon Greenidge opened the Windies innings. However, by the 18th over, the Australians had been able to get a firm hold of the match by taking three valuable Windies wickets. It was then that skipper of West Indies Clive Lloyd and Rohan Kanhai started to rebuild the Windies innings. The two of them scored between them 149 runs in 26 overs for the fourth wicket - taking the score from 50 for 3 to 199 for four wickets.

Clive Lloyd - gem of an innings

West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd, the huge figure that he was. played a gem of an innings and scattered the Australian bowlers all over the field and raced to his century - 102 runs in 82 balls that he faced.

Lloyd included to his effervescent knock of 12 fours and two sixes having faced just 85 balls. Rohan Kanhai assisted him with the run-making and Kanhai made 55 runs which included 8 fours.

To the credit of Clive Lloyd and Rohan Kanhai the West Indies were able to run up the somewhat huge score of 291 runs losing 8 wickets in their quota of 60 overs.

For the Australians Gary Gilmour had the best bowling figures - 5 for 48 while J. Thomson had 2 for 44.

Silly run - outs put Aussies down

In reply, the Australians scored the runs, knowing the responsibility that had been placed on them. At one time they were going well and had made 221 for 6 wickets. But some silly running between the wickets that caused many run-outs put them down.

Australian skipper Ian Chappell faced 93 balls and he started the run-out malady when he had made 62. Fine fielding by Vivian Richards enabled the Windies to get three Aussie batsmen run out. There were altogether 5 run-outs.

For the last wicket the Australians had some sort of resistance - Dennis Lillee joined Jeff Thomson and they were involved in a 41-run partnership. The Australians were all out for 274 runs in 58.4 overs.

For the West Indies, Keith Boyce had the wonderful figures of 4 for 50. So, the west indies won this final by 17 runs. West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd who played that majestic knock of 102 runs was a deserving winner of "Man of the Match".

The victorious Windies collected the Prudential World Cup Trophy plus, 4,000 Sterling Pounds, runner-up Australia received 2,000 Sterling Pounds. England and New Zealand who were in the semi-finals received 1,000 Sterling Pounds. So, that was the start to the World Cup Cricket Tournament which has now grown to a much bigger tournament.

		
		SCORE BOARD
WEST INDIES
R.C. Fredericks hit wkt b Lillee	07
C.G. Greenidge c Marsh b Thomson	13
A.I. Kallicharran c March b Gilmour	12
R.B. Kanhai b Gilmour			55
C.H. Lloyd c Marsh b Gilmour	       102
I.V.A. Richards b Gilmour		05
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			06
A.M.E. Roberts did not bat		00
Extras:					17
Total: (for 8 wkts in 60 overs)	       291

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-27, 3-50, 4-199
		 5-206, 6-209, 7-261, 8-285
Bowling: D. Lillee 12-1-55-1
	 G. Gilmour 12-2-48-5
	 J. Thomson 12-1-44-2
	 M. Walker 12-1-71-0
	 G.S. Chappell 7-0-33-0
	 K.D. Walters 5-0-23-0

AUSTRALIA
R.B. McCosker c Kallicharran b Boyce	07
A. Turner run out			40
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. Walker run out 			07
J.R. Thomson run out			21
D.K. Lillee not out 			16
Extras:					18
Total:				       274

Fall of Wickets: 1-25, 2-81, 3-115, 4-162
		 5-170, 6-195, 7-221, 8-231, 9-233
Bowling: B.D. Julien 12-0-58-0
	 A.M.E. Roberts 11-1-45-0
	 K.D. Boyce 12-0-50-4
	 V.A. Holder 11.4-1-65-0
	 C.H. Lloyd 12-1-38-1