When the Australians were cruising to victory it was a disgrace to see some of the cricket fans hurling garbage onto the playing area. One cricket fan flung an empty beer bottle into the ground.
After losing century maker against Sri Lanka Adam Gilchrist for 21 with the score at 44, Ricky Ponting joined Mark Waugh and together they toyed with the England bowlers as they piloted their side to a grand victory.
Waugh and Ponting batted with ease as they did against the Lankans in Sydney and when in this form they are two of the most difficult batsmen to bowl against or even to dismiss.
Australia and England have two wins while Sri Lanka have yet to win.
England started off in a blaze after skipper Alec Stewart won the toss and took first lease, but fell apart thereafter and disappointed the almost packed house with batting that lacked purpose and dedication.
After losing Stewart early, Nick Knight and Mark Ealham seemed to be in control, until Glen McGrath knocked back the stumps of Ealham who was getting too adventurous. Ealham made a quick 21.
Knight was not long in going for 19 and it was left to Nasser Hussain who has been having a wonderful time with the bat in the Test series to hold the batting together, which at that time looked like crumbling.
Fairbrother who has been in the runs tried to loft Adam Dale and Michael Bevan held onto a brilliant diving catch at mid wicket. Fairbrother made 15.
Once Hussain fell for 47, it was a matter of time for England and they collapsed to be all out for 178 in 43.2 overs.
Glen McGrath the paceman is carrying his fine Test match bowling form and was among the wickets once again with 4 for 45. Bevan in addition to his brilliant catch came on late in the England innings and finished with 2 wickets for 9.
It was a very hot day in Melbourne and it was energy sapping to the players as well as the cricket fans. However the Barmy Army, a team of England supporters were lively as ever and were urging their cricketers on with shouts of encouragement.
The Sri Lankans, with off spinner Muthiah Muralitharan under a cloud, left for Bargoo where they will play an Australian County team in a one-dayer tomorrow.