†AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND 1987-88

At Brisbane, January 17. Australia won by five wickets. Toss: Australia. Quick thinking by the 'Gabba's curator, Kevin Mitchell, saved the match from being a washout. With New Zealand 137 for three after 40.3 overs, and Jones dominating the innings, Mitchell ran on to the pitch, his groundstaff and tractor following, and removed the stumps to the astonishment of umpires Crafter and Johnson. Within seconds a rain squall hit the ground, but the covers were on and the pitch was saved from becoming a quagmire. The curator's intervention meant that only 37 minutes of play were lost, although the match was reduced to 44 overs a side. Chatfield took wickets with successive balls in his first over, after which Boon (48 from 47 balls) slipped the Australians' reply into top gear. He and Jones put on 77 off 82 deliveries for the third wicket, and when both were out Veletta and Waugh (45 from 38 balls) added 64 from 72 deliveries. Border, playing in his 100th WSC match, out of 101, saw his side to victory with 10.4 overs to spare.

Man of the Match: S. R. Waugh. Attendance: 21,690.