New Zealand v South Africa

At Napier, March 2, 2004. New Zealand won by five wickets. Toss: South Africa.

Smith won the toss for the fifth time in six matches, and again made the wrong decision. (In fact he called right at Dunedin, too, but the game was washed out and Fleming won the toss on the reserve day.) This time he took first use of a pitch that looked good for batting but actually gave the New Zealand seamers assistance. An early finish seemed likely while South Africa were floundering to 29 for five, then 40 for six. Prince and Klusener repaired some damage, though the highest stand - a South African tenth-wicket record of 67 - came from Morkel and the hard-hitting Ntini. In reply, Papps, who had heard the previous day that he would be in New Zealand's Test squad for the first time, played a sound, technically correct innings and ensured a comfortable win.

Man of the Match: M. H. W. Papps.