ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND

At Sydney, December 13 (day/night). England won by 33 runs. Toss: New Zealand. Injudicious batting by New Zealand's middle order in the face of accurate spin bowling, shrewdly handled by Gooch in his first game of the series, enabled England's bowlers, with the aid of one fortunate lbw decision, to save the batsmen's faces. England's score looked a good 40 below par on an afternoon of blazing sunshine, especially when Crowe and Wright raised 50 in 13.2 overs. But at 56 Lamb held a magnificent diving slip catch to dispose of Wright. With Crowe kept away from the strike, Tufnell and Hemmings, bowling respectively to seven and six men in the circle, remorselessly pushed up the asking-rate. New Zealand still had a chance until Crowe was adjudged lbw to a ball that looked sure to clear his leg stump. His 76 from 108 balls (four fours) compared favourably with Lamb's 72 off 114 (seven fours), but the latter won the match award, despite his role in the role in the run-outs of Morris and Stewart.

Man of the Match: A. J. Lamb.