Australia v New Zealand

At Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, September 15. Australia won by 164 runs. Toss: Australia.

Coming into this match, Australia had never won in the Champions Trophy. It took them just 77 overs to correct that with a performance that was more like an autopsy. McGrath sliced up the top order with a spell of 7-1-37-5 as New Zealand slumped to 51 for six. Australia idled after that, but despite a last-wicket stand of 50, revenge for the VB Series torment was theirs long before the shadows lengthened. McGrath was erratic but when he found his length, the batsmen walked. He removed Fleming and Vincent with the sixth and seventh balls of a miscounted over, and soon Styris, Sinclair and Oram - shouldering arms to a beauty - joined the procession. Gilchrist had set the tone with a punishing 30-ball 44 before Ponting took over. Vettori's flight and variety gave New Zealand a chance, only for Martyn - scratchy and nervous until he found his magic drives - to lead a charge that brought 120 from the last 16 overs. On a strip where the ball almost stopped after pitching, 296 was a mammoth total.

Man of the Match: G. D. McGrath.