Australia v New Zealand

At Cardiff, May 20. New Zealand won by five wickets. Toss: Australia.

New Zealand provided the first upset of the 1999 World Cup, beating their neighbours with a comfortable 28 balls in hand. Steve Waugh's decision to bat was based on the belief that a somnolent pitch would slow even further. During Australia's innings, under heavy cloud which produced one downpour, it lived down to expectations. Larsen was difficult to get away and Allott found regular late swing and seam, preventing the batsmen from accelerating.

By the time New Zealand batted, though, the sun was out and the ball was coming easily on to the bat. There was still enough swing to reduce New Zealand to 49 for four, but then Twose and Cairns added 148 in 28 overs. It was a battle, at first, against Warne and McGrath. But both batsmen began to play handsomely, with Cairns depositing a ball from Warne - whose wife, back in Melbourne, had given birth to a son overnight - into the river Taff. The winning runs came in a rush, to the delight of hundreds of New Zealanders in the crowd. This was the first one-day international staged at Sophia Gardens.

Man of the Match: R. G. Twose. Attendance: 6,400.