New Zealand v Sri Lanka

At Sharjah, April 9 (day/night). New Zealand won by 11 runs. New Zealand 4 pts. Toss: New Zealand.

A classic fight ended in Sri Lanka's only group defeat. New Zealand cantered to 83 for two in 15 overs before Muralitharan came on; afterwards, they might as well have been playing with sticks of rhubarb. His first spell culled Fleming, guiding to slip as if in a trance, Styris, lofting to mid-wicket, and Nevin, unluckily given out at bat-pad. The third umpire could only judge whether the ball carried (it had) not whether it hit the bat (it had not). Muralitharan thought he had Sinclair, too, caught on three, only for umpire Venkat to reinstate him, at least until Murali's second spell. From 159 for seven, Oram stoked a blazing recovery, with 46 from 33 balls, but Sri Lanka remained favourites. Despite a plodding start, in which Nevin dropped Atapattu three times, they needed 94 from 18 overs, with eight wickets in hand. But disciplined seam bowling and ferocious ground fielding built up the pressure. Butler took a great diving catch to dismiss Atapattu as the required rate crept up, and Sri Lanka crumpled.

Man of the Match: J. D. P. Oram.