New Zealand v Australia

At Napier, March 5, 2005. Australia won by 122 runs. Toss: New Zealand.

Any hopes among local supporters that Australia might ease off after capturing the first four games were rapidly despatched. Indeed, it was a game in which the Australians did everything quickly: they scored at almost seven an over, and Lee came within a whisker of a 100mph delivery. Gilchrist was especially disdainful of the remodelled New Zealand attack, launching a brutal, premeditated blitz and clubbing 91 from 61 balls before holing out, to the relief of the hapless bowlers and mixed feelings among the crowd. They were left to make do with a comparatively sedate 141 from 127 balls from Ponting as Australia racked up an unassailable 347. Amid the carnage, Vettori bowled ten overs for just 37. Not that the fireworks stopped for long. In the New Zealand reply, Lee unleashed an awesome opening spell in which he was clocked at 160.8kph (99.9mph) - almost as fast as the capitulation of the top order. The ball - Cumming tried but was unable to lay bat on it - equalled his personal record and came immediately after a leg-side wide clocked at 160.4kph. Shoaib Akhtar remained the only bowler to pass the 100mph barrier. There was some brief defiance from McMillan and McCullum, but Cairns, who tore a hamstring while fielding early on, spent perhaps his final appearance against Australia watching forlornly from the dressing-room.

Man of the Match: R. T. Ponting.