Read the article of Australia vs New Zealand Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 2nd Final 1988 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the second final played between New Zealand and Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney in 24th January 1988.
All-round display from Craig McDermott, David Boon's 43 and Dean Jones' unbeaten half-century steers to Australia convincing six-wicket victory over New Zealand and took an unbeatable 2-0 lead to clinch the title in a low-scoring game of the second final of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
New Zealand scored 168-5 in the alloted 38 overs with top scorer by Andrew Jones cracked a unbeaten 56 off 82-balls including 3-fours.
Jeff Crowe cracked a 42 off 40-balls including 4-fours & a six and Richard Hadlee 19.
Australia best bowler by Craig McDermott captured two-wickets, Simon Davis, Tony Dodemaide and Steve Waugh each took one-wickets.
Australia chased 169-4 in 34.1 overs with top scorer by Dean Jones scored a unbeaten 53 off 70-balls including 2-fours.
David Boon struck 43 off 56-balls including 3-fours, Mike Veletta scored 30 off 35-balls included a four and Craig McDermott hit 24 off 16-balls with 4-fours.
New Zealand best bowler by Martin Snedden took 2-wickets and one for Richard Hadlee - Willie Watson.
This match reported by Mike Coward (Third Party Reference from SMH)
Allan Border's vibrant and ambitious young Australian team is capable of ruling the cricket world in the near future.
This is the conviction of Jeff Crowe, the gracious captain of the New Zealand team so badly beaten by the Australians in the second World Series Cup final at the SCG.
Australia overpowered New Zealand by six wickets in an unexceptional 38-over exchange to win the WSC for only the fourth time since it was first contested in 1979-80.
Border, who in years gone by raised his right hand only in frustration, anger or defiance, yesterday happily used it again to hoist on high another trophy.
It was the third time in just 11 weeks that he was filled with pride as he held aloft a symbol of supremacy at a game that for so long deprived him of the joys he has always so richly deserved.
On November 8 he was garlanded with frangipani as he held the World Cup in Calcutta and on December 30 he took possession of the flimsy Trans-Tasman Trophy for the first time.
Sadly, because of an oversight by Sydney Cricket Ground officials, Border was unable to share his joy with the crowd of 29,356 at the game.
The trophy was presented in a small room set aside for the use of television staff in the Members' Stand. As was the case in Melbourne on Friday night, the Australians won effortlessly this time with 3.5 overs in hand.
While they had the best of conditions - rain disrupted proceedings for 117 minutes during the New Zealand innings - they were again irresistible in their every undertaking, revealing a touch of arrogance that so characterised the finest performances of Ian Chappell's teams.
Jeff Crowe, downcast but not disillusioned after such an unproductive summer, hopes his players have benefited from playing this rejuvenated and committed Australian team. "They are an extremely good team and I think they can become the best in the world," Crowe said.
"I think all nations will see their strengths wherever they play and wherever they tour.
"The side Allan has got has a lot of youth in it. Not all the guys have reached their peak and obviously there is room for improvement and for them to develop more experience."
The Australians have now won eight consecutive limited-over matches only the West Indies with 11 have had a better sequence and a stunning 16 of their 18 outings since the start of their World Cup campaign on October 9.
There was, amid the euphoria, a moment tinged with sadness. At 4.54 pm the world's greatest new-ball bowler, Richard Hadlee, walked from an Australian arena for the last time.
Apparently the pain from a knee injury which very nearly prevented him from playing was so irksome that he withdrew when he completed his eight overs the maximum permitted a bowler in a 38-over affair.
Jeff Crowe said later that Hadlee, who has had such an uneasy time in recent weeks, would have received a "walk off" from his teammates had he stayed to the end.
Hadlee, whose name appeared on scores of banners and placards and was chanted at various time during the afternoon, took the wicket of Geoff Marsh while conceding 22 runs.
The Australians required only 169 runs at 4.44 to win the title. As so often has been the case in recent times, the task was willingly undertaken by David Boon and Dean Jones.
Boon, the newly-crowned International Cricketer of the Year, took 43 from 56 balls with customary ease and the wonderfully cocky Jones, 53 from 70 deliveries.
It was Jones's fifth half-century of the series and boosted his aggregate to 461 at 57.63 - an achievement which won him the Man-of-the-Series award. His task of guiding the Australians to victory was made all the easier by Craig McDermott, batting at No 3, who belted 24 from 16 balls, taking 18 from Ewen Chatfield's fifth over.
In similar circumstances in the World Cup final he scored 14 at number four. The advent of rain on an unpleasant morning and the prompt loss of John Wright and Martin Crowe, now looking so .tired and forlorn, was too much for the New Zealanders to overcome.
However, Andrew Jones, this time at four in a restructured order, top scored with 56 to boost his aggregate to the series to 416 at 52.00.
And, to the delight of his army of admirers in this country, Jeff Crowe chipped in with 42 from 40 balls and may have regained confidence and touch. However, their labours produced only 5-168, well short of that required against this rampant Australian team.
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