VB Series

At Sydney, February 8, 2004 (day/night). Australia won by 208 runs. Toss: Australia.

For the third time in less than a year these teams met in a tournament final, and for the third time Australia prevailed. In the first of those meetings, at the climax of the World Cup, Australia had made a massive 359 - their highest in one-day internationals - and they equalled that total now. Hayden was lethal in his run-a-ball 126, Martyn kept up the tempo, and it was nicely set up for the savagery of Symonds. He smashed 66 off 39 balls and was largely responsible for 70 coming from the last five overs. Against controlled bowling, India could not offer even token resistance. By the 17th over, they were 59 for six (including Dravid for his first duck for 121 oneday international innings), and no one could pass 30. The margin of 208 was India's secondheaviest defeat by runs in limited-overs cricket - and Australia had wrapped up the VB Series in the most emphatic style.

Man of the Match: M. L. Hayden. Attendance: 39,760. Man of the Series: A. C. Gilchrist.