PAKISTAN v WEST INDIES

At Sydney, January 14 (day/night). Pakistan won by eight wickets. Toss: Pakistan.

Defeat snapped West Indies' eight-match winning streak and proved that you should never sacrifice winning momentum to give players a game. They rested Ambrose, Lara and Walsh and began a spiral into two weeks of poor form which culminated in losing the decisive Adelaide Test. Fringe pace bowlers Thompson and McLean struggled in the front line as Pakistan cruised home with ten overs in hand. Earlier, a collapse of eight wickets for 25 wasted the solidity of Chanderpaul, as Saqlain Mushtaq, displaying the cunning of an old sweat, took four for 17 with near-flawless control. This gave him 15 at 13.86 in the tournament; by its end, he was widely lauded as the best off-spinner in the world.

Man of the Match: Saqlain Mushtaq. Attendance: 19,011.