†AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES 1983-84

At Melbourne, February 12. West Indies won by six wickets. What should have been the highpoint of the competition bordered on anticlimax as West Indies overcame the early loss of Haynes and Gomes to successive balls from Lawson to gain a decisive win before a desultory crowd. It was as though Melbourne's avid cricket followers shared the West Indian opinion that they were there for the third final under false pretences. Without the services of Smith (dislocated left shoulder) and Ritchie (right knee medial strain) Australia brought in Phillips and the Tasmanian batsman, David Boon. Border, who had had a sharp decline in confidence after half-centuries in the first two WSC games, was promoted to open the innings, only to fail again - his tenth innings in succession below 20 in the competition. Wessels, however, found a resolute partner in Boon; Hughes hit 65 from 88 balls, and Marsh helped give Australia a useful total, especially as West Indies had chosen only four specialist batsmen, partly as an indication of their dissatisfaction at having to play at all. However, Richardson and Logie shared a stand of 49 and then Logie and Dujon carried West Indies to a sweeping win with 27 balls to spare.

Man of the Finals: J. Garner. Attendance: 19,210.