New Zealand v England 1996-97

At Christchurch, February 20 (day/night). England won by four wickets. Toss: New Zealand. The mercurial Tufnell had a rapid change of fortunes and turned out the match-winner, even though England had planned to exclude him until they discovered they were to play on the worn Test match pitch. In his first one-day international for two years, he took four for 22, and a stand of 170 between Stewart and Thorpe then ensured victory. England had lost their last 12 one-day games overseas against Test-playing teams. A few days before the match Tufnell had been accused of smoking cannabis in the toilet at a Christchurch restaurant. No evidence was produced to support this claim, which began to look like a successful publicity stunt. New Zealand made a good start, thanks to Astle, but he was caught at mid-off from Tufnell's fourth ball and - despite the enterprising innings from Harris - England were not troubled again, although the novelty of the occasion, the first day-night international at Lancaster Park, made the atmosphere more than normally hysterical.