Toss: New Zealand. The Waughs relentlessly steered Australia into the semi-finals as Mark became the first batsman to score three hundreds in one World Cup. New Zealand must have been delighted with their total of 286 – it was their highest in 63 one-day games against Australia, and more than any team had chased successfully in this tournament. Their heroes were Germon, who continued to bat at No. 3, and Harris, recalled after scoring only 26 in the opening three matches. Together, they put on 168 – a fourth-wicket record for New Zealand and the World Cup – at more than six an over. Germon scored 89 from 96 balls, his maiden international fifty, and Harris his first century for New Zealand. He was finally caught, one-handed by Reiffel on the boundary, in the penultimate over, for 130 from 124 balls with four sixes and 13 fours. With Morrison injured, Germon reverted to New Zealand's surprise tactic of the last World Cup – giving off-spinner Patel the new ball. It had unsettled Australia in 1992, and he did have Taylor caught behind in the sixth over. But Mark Waugh was soon into his stride, with some unexpected support: Warne was promoted to No. 4 as the latest pinch-hitter, and smashed two sixes in 24 from 14 balls. It was Waugh's more familiar partner, his twin Steve, who saw him past his hundred. Mark made 110 from 112 balls with two sixes, five fours and a lot of running, before he grew tired and slightly misjudged a shot to the boundary which found Parore. However, Steve supervised the closing stages. Australia's victory, with 13 balls to spare, meant that all four semi-finalists came from Group A; their counterparts from Group B – by coincidence, the four semi-finalists of 1992 – had been wiped out.

Man of the Match: M. E. Waugh.

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