†SRI LANKA v WEST INDIES 1984-85

At Melbourne, February 27 (day/night). West Indies won by eight wickets. By scoring the 136 they needed for victory in only 23.1 overs, West Indies made sure of finishing first in their group by virtue of a faster run-rate than New Zealand. The significance of this for them was that their semi-final would be played in Melbourne rather than on a turning pitch in Sydney, possibly against the Indian spinners. Not that the Melbourne pitch for this match was entirely kind to the West Indians. After Sri Lanka had had a hard struggle to make 135 for seven, West Indies lost Richardson and Gomes, hit in the face by rising balls from De Mel and Rumesh Ratnayake respectively. Gomes lost two teeth and suffered a broken nose. Morning rain (the start was delayed by half an hour and the match reduced from 50 to 47 overs a side) and evening dew may have accounted for the uneven bounce, though after the match aspersions were cast on Ratnayake's action.

Man of the Match: J. R. Ratnayeke. Attendance: 4,508.