ENGLAND v WEST INDIES 1976

At Birmingham, August 30, 31. West Indies won by 50 runs. Torrential rain, which washed out play on the Bank Holiday Monday left the playing area so wet that the match did not start until just before two o'clock on the Tuesday with each side limited to 32 overs.

Nevertheless a crowd of about 10,000 turned up to see the West Indies give a display of whirlwind hitting to match anything they achieved on tour. Clive Lloyd led the way by scoring 79 off 57 balls and they made 223 for nine in their allocation of overs. This proved far too many for England, who were bowled out for 173 in 31.4 overs, Randall again making a good impression by scoring 39 off 31 balls, hitting eight 4's.

The disparity between the sides was emphasised by the final distribution of prize money. The West Indies players shared £5,150 while England's 14 strong squad had to be content with £200 between them, the sum earned by Randall's nomination as the home team's man of the series.

Richards had one of his rare failures in the Birmingham game. He and Fredericks both fell in the first over by Lever. However Greenidge, Lloyd and Rowe between them made 138 off the next 19 overs with some brutal hitting, Lloyd striking three sixes and Greenidge hitting a ball from Botham right out of the ground, no mean feat on such a large ground.

England's reply was sprightly enough but even though Amiss and Wood had 50 on the board in 14 overs they were well behind the required rate. Both got a few good blows as Holder worked his way through the middle batting to claim five victims.

Receipts for the three games were £96,000.