Wisden
Second Guinness Trophy One-Day International

WEST INDIES v AUSTRALIA 1977-78

At Castries, St Lucia, April 11. Australia won by two wickets off the last ball of the match. The exciting climax was in contrast to the earlier lack-lustre play in which the inexperience of each team in limited-overs cricket was evident. Rain reduced the quota of overs per team from 50 to 35.

West Indies began confidently, Greenidge and Kallicharran adding 48 in twelve overs for the first wicket, but they declined so rapidly that they were 92 for eight when Parry was out just after lunch. A stand of 46 for the ninth wicket between Shivnarine and Holder, who hit two long 6s, helped them reach a total of 139 - a rate of just under four runs an over. Steady batting by the early Australian batsmen appeared to have clinched a comfortable victory, and they passed 100 with only four wickets down. But West Indies never stopped trying and there was inexplicable panic in the Australian ranks towards the end as four wickets fell for 19 runs. Six were needed off the last over and, even though one wicket fell during it, Callen's single off the last ball decided the outcome. Simpson, the Australian captain, was voted Man of the Match having taken two for 30 and made 23.

West Indies 139 (34.4 overs) (A. I. Kallicharran 34, V. A. Holder 30; I. W. Callen three for 24); Australia 140 for eight (35 overs) (P. M. Toohey 30).

© John Wisden & Co