Sri Lanka v West Indies

At Cape Town, February 28, 2003 (day/night). Sri Lanka won by six runs. Toss: Sri Lanka.

Like the opening match almost three weeks earlier, this was a Cape Town classic whose outcome was in doubt until the final over. West Indies looked as though they would sneak through again, but after 27 runs had flowed from the two previous overs, Muralitharan returned to concede just two from the 49th. His tight hold on the purse strings - 14 from the last six balls proved too much - took the game, and the Super Six, away from West Indies, who exited at the first opportunity, just as in 1999. Vaas won the match award for his four wickets, including Lara, caught behind for one, but the truly heroic performance came from Sarwan. Knocked out by a Fernando bouncer and stretchered off to hospital, blood pouring from the wound, he was not expected to add to his ten runs. But with West Indies in desperate trouble at 169 for seven in the 43rd over, back he came - in a maroon cap and to a whooping standing ovation. He batted from that moment with no fear, laying in to both Jayasuriya and de Silva, and being dropped by Atapattu. But this was no fairy tale. West Indies fell just short, and Hooper was too desolate to praise him. "I don't think it is too big a deal," he said. "We've seen blood shed before."

Man of the Match: W. P. U. J. C. Vaas. Attendance: 19,382.