The BLACKCAPS enjoyed a dream run in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and there were many moments for New Zealand Cricket fans to reflect upon with real pride. We look back on the top 10 BLACKCAPS performances from the tournament that captured the imagination of the nation.
- Kane Williamson gets BLACKCAPS home at Eden Park.
It was a moment for the ages. With Australian left-arm quick Mitchell Starc ripping through the tail order at the other end, Kane Williamson wrote his name into BLACKCAPS folklore with a show of real courage. The 24-year-old from Tauranga is known for being unflappable and in a fever pitch atmosphere he showed incredible composure. He stepped to the leg side and smashed Pat Cummins over his head down to the long on boundary for a one wicket victory. The full house at Eden Park went absolutely mental. “I think he smiled a couple of times,” BLACKCAPS coach Mike Hesson said of Williamson’s celebration who is typically nonchalant.
- Tim Southee makes history at the Cake Tin
Tim Southee was unplayable at the Cake Tin. Unplayable. The 26-year-old from Whangarei has long been the spearhead of the BLACKCAPS pace attack and on this day he was in a class of his own. His first two wickets where he bowled Ian Bell and Moeen Ali were unbelievable deliveries as he swung the ball with complete control. As he progressed the wickets kept coming and he claimed record ODI figures for New Zealand of 7-33 to bring the house down. The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 had only just begun but you knew that the chorus of SOU-THEE, SOU-THEE around the Cake Tin would be one of the defining memories of tournament. The BLACKCAPS won by 8 wickets in a World Cup performance that will be talked about forever. Southee also had his time in the sun with the bat. On their home pitch, Daniel Vettori and Southee finished the job against Bangladesh. Vettori showed all the value of his experience in a tough situation with 16 from 10 balls and the innings of Southee was something special. He smashed a towering six over long off to get the BLACKCAPS in the box seat and then he carved the following ball through cover point to finish the match. After being dismissed first ball by Mitchell Starc, in his only bat of the tournament to date, this was a great comeback from a man who loves the big occasion.
- Trent Boult blitzes Aussies at Eden Park
Trent Boult admitted in the post-match that it was the most nervous he had ever been before a game of cricket. A full house at Eden Park, the sun was shining and our arch enemy Australia were off to a flier with 48 coming from the first five overs. Dan Vettori stemmed the flow before Trent Boult delivered the finest spell of ODI bowling in his young career. BLACKCAPS skipper Brendon McCullum brought him on for a second spell and it paid dividends with the quick claiming his first five wicket bag to have Australia reeling. He finished with figures of 5-27 from his 10 overs as Aussie were bowled out in the 33rd over for only 151. Special mention has to go to the way Boult batted later in the evening. The No.11 held out the two most important deliveries of his life to get the BLACKCAPS home. He picked up the Man of the Match award for a second time.
- Brendon McCullum blazes a trail at the top
There is only one Brendon McCullum. The diminutive skipper is well known for his attack-at-all-costs approach in ODI cricket and in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 he was arguably the most destructive opener. His innings at the Cake Tin, where he obliterated England’s attack with an uncompromising 77 from only 25 balls, was the perfect way to complement Southee’s sensational bowling. McCullum hit the fastest ever 50 in World Cup history in just 18 balls and he had the Wellington faithful on his feet. McCullum made the world class English attack look like a bunch of club cricketers as he charged without fear. McCullum hit eight fours and seven sixes, including four in a row from Steven Finn who went for 49 runs from 2 overs. McCullum did something similar at Eden Park to set the tone against the Aussies. There was no doubt that his innings against South Africa where he smashed 59 from only 26 balls changed the nature of the match. It is hard to overstate his importance to the BLACKCAPS.
- Martin Guptill gets back to his best
For whatever reason, Auckland’s Martin Guptill was one of the most talked about players this summer. The main reason may be that we all know how good he can be when he is at his best. The BLACKCAPS opener showed that in emphatic fashion in Hamilton when he carved his maiden ICC Cricket World Cup century and his sixth in ODIs for New Zealand. It was vintage Guptill as he looked to have all the time in the world. Guptill timed the ball beautifully and his partnership with good mate Ross Taylor turned the match into the BLACKCAPS favour. The only time that Gup looked vulnerable was on 99 when he cramped up; he shook that off and celebrated his finest innings in the black shirt for some time. But there was more to come, so much more. Guptill delivered the innings of the ICC Cricket World Cup when he smashed an unbeaten 237 from 163 balls at the Wellington Regional Stadium. It was a display that had to be seen to be believed. It was the highest score by a BLACKCAP in an ODI – surpassing his old record of 189 – and underlined his immense value to the New Zealand team. The 28-year-old hit 24 fours and 11 sixes (including one onto the roof of the Cake Tin) in a performance that was talked about around the world.
- Adam Milne shows his athletic prowess
Every team in the world would love to have a first change bowler like Adam Milne. The Palmy pace-man ripped them in at around 150km for the BLACKCAPS all World Cup and after the swinging ball onslaught of Southee and Boult at the top there is no respite. His figures didn’t reflect how well he bowled and that is in part due to the success of the aforementioned. But he also threw himself around in the field like a champion. His catch to remove Eoin Morgan in Wellington was out of the top draw and made it to No.3 on the ESPN plays of the week. The roar around the stadium was deafening. It was a turning point in the match as he broke a valuable partnership and exposed the middle order for Southee’s day in the sun. He pulled off a similar catch in the deep in Napier to claim the final wicket against Afghanistan as the tail wagged. Milne was forced out of the tournament with a heel injury leading into the knockout stages and was aptly replaced by Matt Henry.
- Daniel Vettori the glue for the home side
Daniel Vettori was the unsung hero of the BLACKCAPS bowling effort in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. The 36-year-old was at his mercurial best during the six pool matches, proving the perfect foil for the opener bowlers who are receiving all the plaudits. The most impressive of Vettori’s spells came at Eden Park against Australia. The home side were under the pump with Aussie flying at 48-0 after 5 overs and then Vettori came on. On a ground that is not ideal for a spinner, the veteran changed the whole pace of the game. His 10 overs went for 41 and he picked up two vital wickets. He was rewarded further in Napier when he became the first New Zealander to bring up 300 ODI wickets when he grabbed a four wicket bag against Afghanistan. It got even better at the quarter final in Wellington when he pulled off the catch of the tournament to get rid of Darren Sammy. The BLACKCAPS ran from all corners of the ground when Vettori pulled off a Michael Jordan-esque moment of brilliance at the ripe old age of 36. The catch was an overnight social media phenomenon. Vettori also produced an amazing cameo at Eden Park – including a brilliant flat batted four through point – to support Grant Elliott in the run chase to end all run chases. There is no doubt that Vettori is going to be a tough man to replace as he walks away from international cricket.
- Corey begins in emphatic fashion in Christchurch
Corey Anderson set himself the goal of being the best all-rounder at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and he began in positive fashion. The 24-year-old was the man of the match in his old hometown of Christchurch in the 98 run win over Sri Lanka. Anderson smashed 75 from 46 deliveries as the BLACKCAPS posted a formidable 331 in the opening game. He contributed with the ball, claiming 2-18 from 4 overs and was an easy choice for man of the match. The World Cup was finally here and Anderson was rapt to begin well to shake off the nerves. His partnership with Luke Ronchi at the death was largely responsible for 102 runs being flayed off the last 10 overs. It underlined the power hitting the BLACKCAPS possess in the lower order. Anderson also showed his ability in the semi-final with a much-needed half century and partnership with Elliott that saw New Zealand get home.
- Trent Boult swings up a storm in Dunedin
It was a match that the Otago cricketing faithful were waiting for and the BLACKCAPS didn’t disappoint. Skipper Brendon McCullum won the toss and elected to field first and he got immediate reward with Trent Boult announcing his arrival in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. The morning after claiming a phenomenal $814,000 in the IPL Auction, Boult showed his valued with a superb spell of 2 for 21 from six overs to knock the top off the Scotland batting effort. The visitors were bowled out for 142 and the BLACKCAPS chased it hard to secure a three wicket win in the 25th over. Boult had his first Man of the Match award and the BLACKCAPS were on form early. He went onto the become the highest wicket taker in an ICC Cricket World Cup in New Zealand Cricket history.
10. Grant Elliott makes a name for himself
Ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Wellington’s Grant Elliott was the contentious choice in the BLACKCAPS team. Not inside the team he wasn’t. The South African-born Kiwi is known for having a cool head under pressure and he proved that so emphatically with a Man of the Match performance to get the BLACKCAPS home in the semi-final against South Africa at Eden Park. Elliott struck a patient and powerful 84 from 73 balls to deliver the most important innings of his career and get New Zealand to its first ever final. With the BLACKCAPS needing 18 from 8 balls, Elliott was unflappable. He delivered one of the finest moments in the history of New Zealand Cricket when he hit South African fast bowler Dale Steyn into the southern stand to win the match. The 36-year-old, who has been dubbed the “Hairy Javelin”, in that moment, became a cult hero. Almost as good as the match winning innings was the shot that went around the world of Elliott pulling Steyn up off the Eden Park turf in a display of pure sportsmanship. Elliott went on to be the highest scorer in the final with his 83 coming from only 82 balls at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Elliott is one of the most popular members of the New Zealand team and with good reason.
