Toss: South Africa. This was one of the best limited-overs games seen in Australia. Chasing 301, New Zealand were out of the game at 124 for six in the 31st over. But Cairns, who hit 64 off 54 balls, Parore, with 67 off 48, and Nash almost pulled off the comeback of the summer. Off the second last ball, Nash slashed Pollock towards the third-man fence. The ball hit the boundary rope on the full and was rightly called four, but it was bad luck that it landed where the rope overlapped itself, presenting a wider target. Had the ball carried the centimetre or two further, it would have been six, levelling the scores with one ball to play. As it was, they needed three and Nash was caught in the deep. Kirsten won the match award with his 103 off 116 balls, while Donald was so precise he was given the rare luxury of three slips in the 20th over.

Man of the Match: G. Kirsten. Attendence: 14,219.

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