At Melbourne, December 26. Australia won by 30 runs. Toss: Sri Lanka. Australia made a slow start on a suspect pitch against keen bowling and fielding, but the arrival of Jones in the thirteenth over soon quickened the scoring-rate. When O'Donnell joined him in the 34th over, they added 108 for the sixth wicket in 67 minutes from 98 balls before rain halted the innings. Jones's unbeaten 85 came from 89 balls (one six, four fours) and O'Donnell's 57 not out from 60. Sri Lanka's captain, Ranatunga, who earlier had taken three important wickets for 15 runs in twenty balls, provided the basis of their reply, scoring 55 from 70 balls. It was his dismissal by O'Donnell in the 41st over which put paid to Sri Lanka's victory bid.

Man of the Match: S. P. O'Donnell.

Attendance: 45,012.