At Wellington, March 25. New Zealand won by 88 runs. Toss: New Zealand.

 New Zealand borrowed from their World Cup manual to construct a comfortable win around the batting prowess of Crowe and nagging slow-medium bowlers on a pitch so lifeless that Hughes and Morrison bowled only four overs each. Despite a knee injury, Crowe limped through from the 15th over to the end. He smashed 18 runs from the 48th over of the innings, bowled by Border, hitting a pair of sixes over long-off. The only other batsman to reach fifty in the match was Taylor, although he laboured 21 overs for 21 runs.

Australia lacked the innovative hitting to counter the low pitch once Jones was caught behind off Larsen's second delivery and Steve Waugh was bowled by a grubber. Larsen was particularly hard to get away, taking three wickets for 17 in his ten overs.

Man of the Match: G. R. Larsen.

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