5 memorable NZ ODI moments . . .
1 1992 semifinal New Zealand were tipped to march on to the final by beating Pakistan at Eden Park. They had lost to them in their final pool game — their only defeat to that point — but, batting first, 262 seemed enough. New Zealand, even without their injured captain and talisman Martin Crowe, were on track until relative newcomer Inzamam-ul-Haq took guard, and clouted 60 off 36 balls, ripping the game away.
2 Underarm The most notorious game in New Zealand-Australia history. New Zealand needed six to tie the game at the cavernous Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1981. Australian captain Greg Chappell took no chances, ordering brother Trevor to roll it underarm to batsman Brian McKechnie. Cue two fingers to the younger Chappell by All Black hero McKechnie and century-making non-striker Bruce Edgar. “Don’t do it, mate,” Aussie wicketkeeper Rod Marsh is said to have called to his skipper. New Zealand’s Prime Minister suggested yellow was an appropriate colour for Australia to wear. In the commentary box, Bill Lawry called it “a little bit disappointing”. Go Bill.
3 Lawn bowl One year later, Australia pitched up at Eden Park, a full house in a frenzy. New Zealand made 240 for six and when Chappell strode on to the ground early in Australia’s reply, a wag from the old terraces, now the eastern stand, stepped out and rolled a lawn bowl out to the middle. Jeremy Coney rolled it back. Out it came a second time and Gary Troup over-armed it back to the boundary. Chappell saw the humorous side and, unperturbed, made 108 off 92 balls — but New Zealand won by 46 runs.
4 First World Cup semifinal In here because it was the first of seven trips to the semifinals. It was The Oval, June 1975 and the first of these new fandangled things called the World Cup. Eight teams, 60-over games, and all over in a blink. New Zealand met the West Indies and were rolled for 158, of which Geoff Howarth’s 51 off 93 balls, and 36 from captain Glenn Turner in 74 balls, were the only notable contributions. The West Indies knocked the runs off with 19.5 overs to spare. Alvin Kallicharan hit 72, Gordon Greenidge 55, but the adventure was off and running.
5 ICC glory Okay, it was in Kenya and was called the ICC Knockout — a kind of Champions Trophy forerunner — and in the final New Zealand beat India by four wickets, at the Nairobi Gymkhana ground. So, it was a bit out of sight, but still the first, and only, ICC title won by New Zealand’s men. India made a competitive 264, on the back of a Sourav Ganguly century, but Chris Cairns replied with 102 not out, Chris Harris hit 46 and New Zealand won with two balls to spare.