The New Zealand reply, when it began, got off to the worst possible start. As many as three wickets, including the vitally important one of Astle, were lost, as the Black Caps were left struggling at 15/3 in the sixth over. Enter Chris Cairns. Playing with great responsibility and maturity, the star all-rounder staged a recovery of sorts with an equally determined Scott Styris. The duo put on 78 runs off 103 balls for the fourth wicket before Cairns (32 off 56 balls) was forced to depart after offering the easiest of return catches to Aravinda De Silva.