AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES

At Melbourne, December 19 (day/night). Australia won by 24 runs. Toss: Australia. International debut: M. S. Kasprowicz.

The most remarkable aspect of this match was that it went ahead at all; after days of rain, Melbourne produced one of its coldest summer evenings on record. Law enhanced his World Cup claims with 74 after West Indies had reduced Australia to 46 for three in the 15th over, while Bevan was simply brilliant with an unbeaten 44 off 41 balls. Australia's 249 for six appeared insurmountable and so it proved, despite the first signs of fight from a fractured West Indies camp. Chanderpaul's 73 included one six off McDermott of which many larger men would have been proud.

Man of the Match: M. G. Bevan. Attendance: 43,350.