Cricket: Healy the last-ball hero for Australia

Australia A 209-8

Australia 213-5

(Australia win by five wickets)

Ian Healy hit a four off the last ball of the first World Series final against Australia A in Melbourne yesterday to secure a thrilling victory for the seniors, for whom Michael Slater made 92.

Needing three from Greg Rowell's final over, Healy took a single off the second ball before Steve Waugh tied the scores with another single off the penultimate delivery. Then Healy hit out.

Michael Bevan made 73 as Australia A had reached 209 for 8 from their 50 overs after winning the toss. The second final is in Melbourne tomorrow, with a third match, if necessary, on the same ground on Thursday.

AUSTRALIA A G S Blewett b McDermott 19

M L Hayden c Slater b M Waugh 50

*D R Martyn c Taylor b Warne 20

M G Bevan b NcDermot 73

J L Langer b McDermott 7

R T Ponting b McGrath 19

P A Emery run out 4

G R Robertson c Taylor b McDermott 5

G Rowel not out 1

P McIntyre not out 1

Extras (b6 lb2 w1 nb1) 10

Total (for 8, 50 overs) 209

Fall: 1-28 2-69 3-105 4-136 5-192 6-196 7-203 8-203.

Did not bat: S P George.

Bowling: McDermott 10-1-25-4; Fleming 10-2-38-0; McGrath 10-1-44-1; Warne 10-2-37-1 (1w); Waugh 5-0-30-1 (1nb); Law 5-0-27-0.

AUSTRALIA M J Slater b Blewett 92

*M A Taylor b George 16

M E Waugh c Bevan b Blewett 16

D C Boon c Ponting b McIntyre 36

S R Waugh not out 21

S G Law st Emery b McIntyre 13

I A Healy not out 9

Extras (b2 lb2 w5 nb1) 10

Total (for 5, 50 overs) 213

Fall: 1-51 2-80 3-167 4-167 5-190.

Did not bat: S K Warne, C J McDermott, D W Fleming, G McGrath.

Bowling: Rowell 10-1-52-0; George 9-0-42-1 (4w); Blewett 10-2-25-2 (1nb); Robertson 10-0-35-0; McIntyre 10-0-48-2 (1w); Martyn 1-0-7-0.