At Auckland, February 19 (day/night). Australia won by five wickets. Toss: New Zealand.

In what was to become a pattern for most of the series, New Zealand's batting started badly. Spearman and Astle were out in the first seven balls without a run to the total; Fleming, Cairns and Twose had gone for 52 by the 14th over against a hostile, efficient attack taking its lead from McGrath and Brett Lee. The Australian reply was a light-hearted affair. After early setbacks, Hayden saw them home with 50 from 49 balls, all but two of his runs coming from boundaries (two sixes, nine fours).

Man of the Match: B. Lee.

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