Tony Becca

The first World Cup semi-finals took place at Headingley and at The Oval on June 18, 1975, one was between England and Australia, the other was between the West Indies and New Zealand, both were dominated by fast bowlers, and both were exciting affairs.

With New Zealand going great guns at 98 for one at The Oval, the West Indies hit back, captured nine wickets for 66 runs, dismissed New Zealand for 158 in 52.2 overs, and after losing their first wicket at eight, after chipping along at 133 for one, struggled a bit before running out victors at 159 for five off 40.1 overs.

The real thriller, however, was at Headingley where Australia, thanks to an unbroken seventh- wicket partnership of 55 between Doug Walters, 20 not out, and Gary Gilmour, 28 not out, squeezed through to win with four wickets in hand and with 31.2 overs to spare.

After winning the toss and sending England to bat on a treacherous pitch, Australia, led by left-arm pacer Gilmour with figures of six of 14 off 12 overs, ripped out the home team for 93 in 36.2 overs with only captain Mike Denness, 27, and Geoff Arnold, 18, getting to double figures.

Beautiful performance

In a beautiful performance on a pitch tailor-made for him, Gilmour got the ball to cut off the seam appreciably and in the twinkling of an eye, England were 35 for five with the big Aussie, in removing Dennis Amiss, Barry Wood, Tony Greig, Frank Hayes, and Keith Fletcher, pocketing the first five scalps in the England batting order.

One run later, Allan Knott, batting at number six, fell leg before wicket to Gilmour to 36 for six, one run later, Chris Old was gone for zero at 37 for seven, and it was left to Denness, batting at number six, and to Arnold, batting at number 10, to rescue England from total embarrassment.

At 17 without loss with Allan Turner and Rick McCosker looking good, Australia seemed set to waltz to victory before Arnold trapped Turner leg before wicket for seven and John Snow sent back both Ian Chappell and brother Greg leg before wicket for two and four respectively.

At that stage, Australia were skidding at 32 for three, when Chris Old bowled McCosker for 15 and then bowled Ross Edwards for zero, it was 32 for five, and when Old bowled Rodney Marsh for five, it was 39 for six and Australia were reeling.

Walters, however, batting at number five, and Gilmour, batting at number eight and enjoying a wonderful match in which he won the Man of the Match award, dug in and then, with some exciting stroke play, carried them to victory in style.