New Zealand Cricket Team 1979 Cricket World Cup
New Zealand returned for the second Cricket World Cup in England in 1979, again reaching the semi-finals. This time they lost a thriller to England at Old Trafford by just 9 runs. Mark Burgess captained the side in Glenn Turner's absence.
Campaign Results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| vs Sri Lanka | Won |
| vs India | Won |
| vs West Indies | Lost |
| Semi-final vs England | Lost by 9 runs |
Semi-Final: England vs New Zealand
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Venue | Old Trafford, Manchester |
| England | 221/8 (60 overs) |
| New Zealand | 212/9 (60 overs) |
| Result | England won by 9 runs |
Chasing 222, New Zealand needed 14 off the last over with John Wright and Warren Lees at the crease. They managed only 4, and England went through to the final against West Indies.
Key Players
| Player | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Mark Burgess (c) | Captain, middle-order batsman |
| John Wright | Opener, 69 in the semi-final |
| Richard Hadlee | Leading fast bowler |
| Lance Cairns | All-rounder |
Back-to-Back Semi-Finals
Reaching consecutive World Cup semi-finals in 1975 and 1979 established New Zealand as a consistently competitive one-day side, a reputation they carried into the 1980s. They would not go further than the semi-finals until 2015, when they finally reached the final.
Who captained New Zealand in the 1979 World Cup?
Mark Burgess captained New Zealand in the 1979 Cricket World Cup.
How did New Zealand lose the 1979 semi-final?
They lost to England by 9 runs at Old Trafford, falling short chasing 222.
Rivcky John
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