AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND

At Hobart, December 18. New Zealand won by 1 run. Toss: Australia. New Zealand's victory, before a record crowd of 11,086, confounded the pundits and threw England into confusion: they themselves now had to beat Australia to qualify for the finals. Although Border rearranged his batting order, thinking victory assured of 93 for three in the 25th over, that was scarcely any reason for this defeat. Marsh made 61 from 98 balls, and a target of 84 from the last twenty overs, with six wickets in hand, was well within Australia's compass. However, Border repaid the New Zealanders' generosity for twice dropping him early in his innings by contributing to Jones's run out and then his own, and Alderman, sent back by Matthews, became the third victim of New Zealand's resurgent fielding. Just 2 runs were required off the final over, but Pringle bowled a maiden to Reid. New Zealand, rescued from 112 for five in the 38th over by Latham (44 balls) and Young (37 balls), could hardly have considered likely such a dramatic win.

Man of the Match: B. A. Young.