ICC Champions Trophy, 2006-07

At Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, October 20, 2006 (day/night). Sri Lanka won by seven wickets. Sri Lanka 2 pts. Toss: New Zealand.

New Zealand, conquerors of South Africa, were brought back down to earth by Sri Lanka, who played a near-perfect game. Fleming chose to bat first, but soon regretted it, falling for a duck when Vaas unrolled a typical curling inducker. Maharoof and Malinga grabbed a wicket apiece, then New Zealand's middle order found themselves up against Muralitharan. Murali spun it sharply one way and cleverly the other, snaffling four for 23, while Jayasuriya raced through his overs, picking up two for 26. In a topsy-turvy innings in which the biggest partnership was the last one, Vettori top-scored from No. 8. Sri Lanka cantered to victory in 36 overs, with Tharanga helping himself to 56. The much-maligned Brabourne pitch held up admirably this time, after being treated with the adhesive PVA.

Man of the Match: M. Muralitharan.