New Zealand vs. Australia: Winners and Losers from Cricket World Cup Match
In one of the most thrilling and bizarre one-day internationals ever seen, New Zealand claimed a one-wicket victory over Australia in the Cricket World Cup at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
Needing just 152 for victory after orchestrating a stunning Australian collapse, the home side raced to 78 for one in the eighth over on the back of another Brendon McCullum onslaught that looked set to propel the home side to an emphatic victory.
But, just as Australia had done earlier in the day, the Kiwis fell in a hole, with Mitchell Starc tearing through the home side with figures of six for 28 to leave New Zealand staggering at 146 for nine.
Thankfully for the hosts, the outstanding Kane Williamson was on hand to steer them to safety, finishing a superbly controlled innings with a six off Pat Cummins to help New Zealand escape defeat by the smallest of margins.
Across the following slides, we examine the winners and losers from Saturday's remarkable contest.
Winner: Daniel Vettori
1 of 7
In the buildup to this clash at Eden Park, all the talk had centred on the impressive fast-bowling attacks belonging to each side, with most convinced the game would be decided by the new ball.
And to a certain extent, it was—just not in a way that had been predicted.
Indeed, when Daniel Vettori came into the attack for New Zealand, Australia were 51 for one after just six overs after some wayward stuff from Tim Southee.
But using his guile, variations and supreme control of length, the veteran left-arm spinner completely put the brakes on Australia.
His first five balls were all dots, his opening four overs cost just 13 runs and featured the wicket of Shane Watson, and, as his spell neared completion, his figures of 28 for two from nine overs had completely halted Australia's momentum and had swung the direction of the match.
Winner: Trent Boult
2 of 7
In a loose opening to their time in the field, Trent Boult was easily the better of New Zealand's opening pair, as partner Tim Southee bowled wildly and was blasted all around Eden Park by Aaron Finch and David Warner.
But it was when the left-armer was reintroduced into the attack for his second spell after Daniel Vettori had quelled the visitors that he did the damage.
Claiming the wickets of Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, Boult grabbed an incredible five scalps in just 18 balls for one run.
In conjunction with Vettori, he tore the heart out of the Australian batting lineup and played a leading role in Australia's extraordinary collapse from 80 for one to 106 for nine.
Winner: Brendon McCullum, for Both His Captaincy and Batting
3 of 7
Another top-order explosion. Another rapid half-century. Another demoralised opening bowler.
Indeed, just as he'd done against England, Brendon McCullum's innings against Australia was devastating, as he thrashed Mitchell Johnson all around Eden Park to compile a sparkling 50 from just 24 balls.
In the end, his knock proved to be the difference.
Yet, McCullum's day wasn't just about his batting; his captaincy in the field was outstanding as well.
After Australia's blistering start, the Black Caps' leader could have easily opted for conservatism in an attempt to reduce the damage. But that's not McCullum's way; he's a gambler, a risk taker.
Thus, the Kiwi skipper recognised that wickets were the key to changing the game's complexion.
That mentality saw him bring on Daniel Vettori extremely early—a move that proved to be a masterstroke. Then, with the game becoming more manageable, he returned to the previously wayward Tim Southee in search of another breakthrough and was rewarded with the scalp of David Warner.
Suddenly, the score was 80 for three.
And then, not satisfied there, he reintroduced Trent Boult after the drinks break rather than saving his overs, watching the left-armer tear Australia apart.
As an exhibition of aggressive captaincy, it was as fine as it gets—enhanced by his use of attacking fields and plenty of catching men in both the slips and inside the ring.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Loser: Mitchell Johnson
4 of 7
Prior to Saturday's match at Eden Park, the worst economy rate Mitchell Johnson had ever recorded when bowling five overs or more in a one-day international was 8.22.
On Saturday against New Zealand, he conceded his runs at 11.33 per over.
Targeted by Brendon McCullum in the opening stages of the home side's chase, Australia's leading seamer was blasted for seven fours and three sixes in his first four overs; his first spell costing him a staggering 52 runs.
And it didn't get any better for Johnson when he returned, as Corey Anderson thumped a trio of boundaries from his first three deliveries when brought back into the attack in the 15th over.
In short, it was a day Johnson will want to forget.
Winner: Mitchell Starc
5 of 7
Though Mitchell Johnson was awful at one end, Mitchell Starc was truly outstanding at the other.
In fact, the left-armer's spell might rank among the finest fast-bowling performances seen in the history of 50-over cricket.
With consecutive deliveries in the ninth over, Starc sent the stumps of Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott cartwheeling to send a wave of tension through the ground, as the home side stumbled to 79 for four in their small chase.
And then later, with the game seemingly over, the New South Welshman repeated the trick.
In the 21st over, he removed Luke Ronchi with a brutal short ball that the right-hander gloved through to Brad Haddin, before shattering the stumps of Adam Milne and Tim Southee with consecutive deliveries in the 23rd over to leave New Zealand at 146 for nine.
When it was over, Starc figures were a blistering six for 28.
Does Australia's attack have a new leader?
Winner: Kane Williamson
6 of 7
Naturally, Kane Williamson's day will be remembered for his six down the ground off Pat Cummins that clinched victory in an incredible contest against Australia.
But for New Zealand's number three, his performance on Saturday was about so much more than that.
In an extraordinary atmosphere inside Eden Park, the right-hander exuded nothing but composure, compiling an extremely cool and unbeaten 45 that steered his team to safety.
As others crumbled under pressure and lost any sense of match awareness, Williamson took it all in his stride and displayed a maturity that one would typically associate with a veteran, not a 24-year-old.
Indeed, the way he shouldered the responsibility was impressive and was yet another indication of why many believe he could eventually become the greatest batsman ever to emerge from New Zealand.
Loser: The Batting Techniques Of, Well, Almost Everyone
7 of 7
Eden Park is supposed to be a high-scoring ground. In what is essentially a rugby venue, the boundary at one end doesn't even measure 50 metres.
But on Saturday, two of the most destructive and prolific batting lineups in the world scored just 303 runs between them—151 all out and 152 for nine.
In fact, with just over 55 overs completed on the day, the 19 wickets fell, on average, at 18-ball intervals. And a total of eight batsmen lost their stumps—four from each team.
The above picture, showing Grant Elliott produce one of the worst forward-defensive shots you'll ever see, pretty much sums it up: the techniques on display on Saturday were deplorable.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
