NEW ZEALAND v SRI LANKA

At Sharjah, November 7. New Zealand won by 29 runs. Toss: Sri Lanka.

New Zealand set off with what turned out to be a crucial victory. They were rescued by Cairns, who came in at 25 for three after Sri Lanka put them in to bat; he hit 71, including four sixes, and added 73 in 14 overs with Harris. That was easily the biggest stand of the match. Doull dismissed dashing openers Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana cheaply and Sri Lanka's middle order could not score quickly enough. Cairns took their final wicket in the last over but, with 30 runs still required, the result had already become inevitable.

Man of the Match: C. L. Cairns.