Toss: Australia. The first floodlit international in Bombay was also illuminated by some thrilling batting. Mark Waugh became the first man to score consecutive World Cup centuries, and Tendulkar treated his home crowd to an explosive 90. At first, Waugh was overshadowed by Taylor, who galloped to 59 as they opened with 103 at five an over; Australia looked capable of topping 300. But once Taylor was caught on the boundary, the spinners Raju and Kumble thwarted such ambitions. Waugh eventually went for 126 from 135 balls, having hit three sixes and eight fours, and the last seven wickets fell for 26 – four of them in the final over, which yielded only two runs. After six overs, India had lost two wickets to Fleming, while McGrath had bowled three maidens. But Tendulkar hit three fours off McGrath's fifth over, and blazed from 12 to 56 in 25 balls, with seven fours and one six. When Fleming bowled Azharuddin, Tendulkar steadied himself slightly, then raced to 90 from 84 balls, with 14 fours and a six. He was finally stumped off a wide – delivered by his rival, Mark Waugh, trying his hand at off-spin. Until then, no one could write off India, and, though Warne bowled tightly, Manjrekar and Mongia kept them in the hunt. They were always a couple of wickets adrift, however, and Fleming ended the innings by bowling Kumble, his fifth victim, with two overs to go.

Man of the Match: M. E. Waugh.

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