New Zealand v England

At Auckland, February 23 (day/night). England won by 33 runs (D/L method). Toss: England.

Although Duckworth/Lewis may have given England's series-levelling victory a flattering sheen, there was no doubt the better side won. Set 223 in 40 overs after rain had interrupted England's innings, New Zealand slumped to 86 for six, a sequence including an astonishing catch at third man by Gough, who leapt back at full stretch to dismiss Astle. The combative lower middle order gave England a fright, but, when Collingwood bowled Cairns for a 56-ball 58, they breathed again. Flintoff wrapped things up with miserly career-best figures of four for 17. Earlier, England had lost a wicket third ball when Trescothick lifted Tuffey straight to mid-on, while Hussain was ruled lbw to a delivery comfortably passing over off stump, giving Cairns his 150th wicket in his 150th game. Vaughan, in company with Thorpe, put England back on track with an exquisite 59 from 53 deliveries, only to chuck it away in bizarre fashion: struggling to regain his ground, he dropped his bat, and the bowler, Vettori, threw down the stumps. In the end, though, it didn't matter.

Man of the Match: A. Flintoff.