New Zealand v Australia, 2005-06

At Westpac Stadium, Wellington, December 7, 2005 (day/night). Australia won by two runs. Toss: Australia. One-day international debut: M. L. Lewis.

A wonderful match produced 642 runs and a sensational finish. New Zealand went into the last over needing six with two wickets left, chasing Australia's 322. The bowler, Mick Lewis, was both a debutant and a supersub. But Lewis, a 31-year-old fast bowler from Victoria, already had three wickets, and he and his fielders held their nerve. McCullum cut an apparently safe single to backward point from the third ball, but Clarke made a brilliant one-handed pick-up and throw which hit the bowler's stumps. Two balls later Mills was also run out, by Lewis. Australia's score had been built round a mega-innings from Symonds. After collecting his first 50 from a circumspect 70 balls, Symonds flexed his massive shoulders, speeding to 100 in a further 39 balls and adding a third half-century from just 16. He finished with 156, with 12 fours and eight sixes, and put on 220 for the fifth wicket with Clarke, only three shy of the world record. The New Zealand bowlers were shattered, having conceded 118 in the last ten overs. Vincent, though, had some shattering ideas of his own, and took on Lee, enabling New Zealand to hustle along, even before McCullum began shredding the field and infuriating Lee, who sent down what he said was an accidental beamer. Ponting was also seething when Billy Bowden called a no-ball in the 49th over after receiving delayed advice from the third umpire that the Australians had only three fielders within the circle. That over cost 18 in all and Lee, so economical at Auckland, went for 85.

Man of the Match: A. Symonds.