New Zealand v Sri Lanka, 2006-07

At Napier, December 28, 2006. Sri Lanka won by seven wickets. Toss: New Zealand. One-day international debut: M. R. Gillespie.

Another special innings from Sanath Jayasuriya - his 23rd century in one-day internationals - swept Sri Lanka to victory as they nonchalantly overhauled a competitive total with ten overs to spare. Jayasuriya faced only 82 balls, hitting five sixes, and put on 201 with Tharanga, whose 73- ball 68 seemed almost pedestrian in comparison. They were eventually out to successive deliveries at the start of the 25th over, but by then it was as good as over, helped by wayward bowling which donated 12 wides and 12 no-balls. Earlier, New Zealand, captained by Vettori as Fleming was given a three-match break as part of a pre-World Cup rotation plan, were indebted to a maiden one-day hundred from Ross Taylor, an attacking 22-year-old with a Samoan background. He hit four sixes himself, and put on 151 with the evergreen Astle - a stand only ended when Jayasuriya finger-tipped a Taylor straight-drive into the stumps with the non-striker out of his ground. With Taylor suffering from cramp, and Vaas removing Vettori and James Marshall with successive balls, New Zealand lost their way.

Man of the Match: S. T. Jayasuriya.