New Zealand v India

At Auckland, January 11, 2003 (day/night). India won by one wicket. Toss: India.

At 182 for three in pursuit of 200, India were home and dry. But the dismissal of Sehwag for a glorious 112, his second century of the series, sparked blind panic as six wickets tumbled for 16, two of them to chaotic run-outs. With three balls left (they had been fined one over) and nine wickets down, India still needed two. Srinath ran a leg-bye and then Nehra clubbed the winning single. Defeat would have been cruel on Sehwag, who was dropped twice but struck 11 clean-as- a-whistle fours and three breathtaking sixes in 139 balls. In the end, it was cruel on Bond, who had rescued New Zealand with a helter-skelter 15-ball 31 not out, and added 52 in 20 deliveries for the last wicket with Vincent. But for the parsimony of Srinath, however, New Zealand might have been out of sight.

Man of the Match: V. Sehwag.