AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND 1978-79

At Melbourne, February 7. Australia won by six wickets. Another poor England batting performance on a damp pitch enabled Australia to gain a comfortable victory and take the Benson and Hedges Cup as series winners by two games to one. Again winning the toss and committing England to bat on a moist surface, Australia made good use of their opportunities. The pitch was awkward to begin with but England meekly accepted minor status. Dymock, Man of the Match, started a collapse which Brearley, seventh out, valiantly tried to stem. Bairstow had the experience of being run out attempting a sixth run from a Brearley on-drive. As the ball was hit to the farthest part of the ground, five were run and a sixth was tried on an overthrow which was returned to bowler Cosier's end. Had Bairstow, who overran by several yards completing the fifth run, grounded his bat he would probably have got home safely. Willis and Hendrick each conceded 10 in their first over, and with Wood and Yallop in agreeable form Australia coasted to victory much to the delight of the crowd of 11,864.

England 94 (31.7 overs) (J. M. Brearley 46; A. G. Hurst two for 7, T. J. Laughlin two for 17, G. Dymock two for 21); Australia 95 for four (21.5 overs) (G. M. Wood 30, G. N. Yallop 25; R. G. D. Willis two for 16). Umpires: R. C. Bailhache and D. Weser.