AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES

At Melbourne, December 6 (day/night). Australia won by five wickets. Toss: West Indies. International debut: N. A. M. McLean.

This match reinforced the feeling that West Indies lacked the killer touch. They had Australia waist-deep in trouble at 90 for four in the 32nd over, but the home side slipped the noose; Blewett, a cool head in a crisis, advanced his rehabilitation with a well-paced 57 to see them home with eight balls to spare. The pitch was fresh and bouncy and, when the lights came on at 3.45 after early rain, no batsman looked at home. But it was not quite challenging enough to excuse West Indies' top order. Chanderpaul was their anchor again when Lara's looseness put his side under pressure.

Man of the Match: G. S. Blewett. Attendance: 42,422.