At Dunedin, February 23 (day/night). Australia won by 50 runs. Toss: New Zealand.

If New Zealand hoped for quick success by sending Australia in, they were rudely disillusioned. In ideal batting conditions, Gilchrist and Mark Waugh had 114 up before being parted after 20 overs, Gilchrist providing great entertainment with his 77 from 65 balls. Symonds, who came in after Steve Waugh twisted his ankle, was equally destructive, taking Australia beyond 300 with 34 off 13 balls. Astle hit 81 from 84 balls to lead New Zealand's counter-offensive, adding 121 with Twose; once he was fourth out in the 29th over, the asking-rate rose. Parore's dismissal – when his helmet fell on his wicket after being struck by Brett Lee's bouncer – was a signal for the crowd to vent its disappointment; play was held up for ten minutes as objects were thrown on the field. Excluding the recent no-result in Wellington, this victory extended Australia's winning sequence to 11 and put them level with West Indies (June 1984–February 1985) and England (May 1991–March 1992, also interrupted by a no-result).

Man of the Match: A. C. Gilchrist.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd