New Zealand v West Indies

At Southampton, May 24. West Indies won by seven wickets. Toss: West Indies.

Seam bowling of relentless hostility proved far too good for New Zealand, who had been in confident mood after defeating Australia. Yet again, the toss was vital: under the grey skies that characterised the early stages of the competition, Lara leapt at the chance to bowl. On a pitch tailor-made for them, Walsh, Ambrose and company found lift and movement, keeping New Zealand literally and figuratively on the back foot. McMillan coped better than most: between the third over, when Horne scored two, and the 19th, when Cairns got off the mark, he hit all 21 runs from the bat. The first boundary came in the 21st over.

The ball kept on bouncing, swinging and seaming and, for the first time ever in a World Cup match, all ten wickets fell to catches. Jacobs held five, and so equalled the record for dismissals in a limited-overs international. He then steered West Indies to their modest target with an undefeated 80, his highest international score. Lara batted entertainingly, and struck an effortless straight six off Larsen, but for the third time in three games was out to a soft dismissal when he gave a steepling catch to mid-on.

Man of the Match: R. D. Jacobs. Attendance: 4,638.