Tim's ATG Test Series - Fifth Test

5th Test - Melbourne

The MCG was the venue for one of the most dramatic finishes in all of cricket history as the final match of the series gripped all those present right until the final ball. Graeme Pollock's first century of the series gave the 2nd XI a first innings lead despite Muralitharan's fourth five-for in seven innings, but Imran and Marshall combined second time round to blow the Seconds away for 132, leaving the 1st XI needing 172 to close out a 4-1 series victory. They progressed to 154-5 before contriving to lose their last five wickets for 14 runs, with Keith Miller - who had earlier recorded a king pair - finishing off proceedings with a spell of 3-2 in nine deliveries as the 2nd XI triumphed by just 3 runs. It was a fitting finale to a series that had seen 22 of the finest players ever to grace the game lock horns over five Tests, and the selectors' decisions were justified by the 1st XI's eventual 3-2 victory.

2nd XI 1st Inns 314 (Pollock 136*, Lara 55, Ames 42; Muralitharan 5-55)
1st XI 1st Inns 275 (Hammond 103, Sobers 56, Bradman 52)
2nd XI 2nd Inns 132 (Lara 49; Marshall 4-25, Imran Khan 4-40)
1st XI 2nd Inns 168 (Sutcliffe 47, Bradman 45)

TIM'S 2nd XI WON BY 3 RUNS


Man of the Match: KR Miller

Series summary and averages to follow...