AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES

At Perth, January 12. West Indies won by four wickets. Toss: Australia.

West Indies produced their third classic victory in a week to eliminate Australia from the finals, but it represented the peak of their form. Lara simply took the breath away, scoring 90 off 110, including 40 off 24 balls at the death. Rarely had Warne received such a battering: his last three overs went for 31 after he bowled the first seven into a difficult breeze for just 15. With an improbable 66 needed off 42 balls, Lara, who started poorly, switched on the afterburners to smack Warne over the mid-on and mid-off fences. Samuels joined the party with 36 off 24 balls. They found so many gaps in the field that the match resembled an eight-a-side contest.

Man of the Match: B. C. Lara. Attendance: 27,985.