†AUSTRALIA v PAKISTAN

At Lahore, November 4. Australia won by 18 runs. Toss: Australia. Pakistan, losing semi-finalists in 1979 and 1983, again failed to reach the World Cup final. They were beaten by a superior all-round performance as Border's Australian side, scarcely rated at the start of the tournament, came of age. Until Imran returned to take three for 17 in five overs, their batsmen had contributed solidly; and at the very end, Waugh, previously the provider of heroic last overs with the ball, struck a vital 18 runs off Saleem Jaffer, beginning with a six over long-on. Jaffer had earlier conceded 39 from his first five overs (the 50th over was only his sixth) as Marsh and Boon put on 73 in eighteen overs. Malik's direct hit from square leg ran out Marsh, but Boon (91 balls, four fours) and Jones (45 balls) added 82 before Pakistan broke through in the 31st and 32nd overs. Miandad, who stumped Boon, had taken the gloves when Yousuf was struck on the mouth by a deflection off Jones's pad in the nineteenth over. Another wicket now would have put Pakistan on top, but Border and Veletta (50 balls) kept the momentum going with a stand worth 60 runs.

Pakistan made a disastrous start, losing three wickets in 10.1 overs. Ramiz, sent back, was run out in the first over, Mansoor always struggled, and Malik, playing across the line, spooned the first ball of Waugh's spell to extra-cover. Miandad (104 balls, four fours) and Imran (83 balls, four fours) rebuilt the innings with 112 in 26 overs, reducing the target to 118 from fifteen overs. While Miandad remained it was always possible, but his dismissal, swinging at Reid in the 44th over, left the last three wickets to muster 56 runs. Instead, McDermott, bowling fast and accurately, took all three to finish with the first five-wicket return of the tournament and dash the dreams of a nation.

Man of the Match: C. J. McDermott.