New Zealand v Sri Lanka, 2006-07

At Auckland, December 26, 2006. New Zealand won by five wickets. Toss: New Zealand. Twenty20 international debuts: M. J. Mason; C. M. Bandara.

This time Sri Lanka did the experimenting, resting Muralitharan and Jayasuriya, and this time they lost. The weather was much better than for the first match, leading to a Boxing Day crowd of 21,762. The pitch was faster, but allowed some bounce and movement for the seamers: Franklin, the left-armer, took advantage with three early strikes, and Sri Lanka never really recovered. They were 44 for four at the end of the seventh over, and although a late rally from Malinga and Fernando lifted them to 115, it never looked enough. Fleming and McCullum made another useful start. Although three quick wickets went down, amid some brilliant fielding, Astle's steady hand took his side home.

Man of the Match: J. E. C. Franklin.