The New Zealand cricket team pulled off a nail biting one-wicket victory over Australia in their World Cup pool game at Eden Park on Saturday.
Kane Williamson celebrates with Trent Boult. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
After bowling Australia out for 151, the Black Caps struggled to chase down the meagre total, losing nine wickets before completing the triumph in the 24th over.
How it happened - Live commentary
Brendon McCullum top-scored with 50 before Kane Williamson struck a six to secure the win, New Zealand's fourth of the tournament.
Williamson again demonstrated his composure under pressure.
With Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc swinging the ball at high pace to scythe through the New Zealand batting order and last man Trent Boult at the crease, Williamson said he decided to take matters into his own hands.
The first ball of Pat Cummins' next over was full and Williamson stepped calmly forward and struck the ball cleanly over the bowler's head and across the boundary to give New Zealand a one-wicket win at Eden Park.
"I was looking to hit a boundary, ideally a six, after what Starc did at the other end for the new batsmen coming in, it was obviously quite tough so trying to get a boundary away was sort of the plan," the Black Caps match-winner says.
Chasing just 151 to win Williamson and Corey Anderson appeared to have made the game safe for New Zealand when they took them to 131 for four just after the dinner break, before the Black Caps lost 5 wickets in quick succession to set-up the thrilling finish.
New Zealand are now likely to top pool A and host a potential trans-tasman semi-final in Auckland.
McCullum says he isn't surprised by the low scores given the quality of both team's bowlers.
Paceman Boult was named man of the match for his career best bowling figures of five for 27, but also played a crucial role batting at number 11, seeing off two deliveries from the red-hot Mitchell Starc to help New Zealand to the one-wicket win.
He says it was the advice of Kane Williamson, who scored 45 and hit the winning runs, that calmed him down when he got to the crease.
"I was going about a million miles an hour but he, ah, quickly slowed it down for me to simplify it, if i got through those two balls then we could move forward from there so it was great to get there."
Trent Boult celebrates the wicket of Michael Clarke. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Australia's Starc took six for 28, including two wickets in his ninth over which threatened to derail New Zealand's run chase.
The victory means the Black Caps remain on top of group A with four wins from four games.
They next play minnows Afghanistan on March the 8th and Bangladesh on March 13.
Earlier, Australia won the toss and chose to bat, a decision that paid dividends as the visitors raced to 80 for one after 12 overs.
Trent Boult celebrates his wicket of Mitchell Starc. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Tim Southee bowled the opener Aaron Finch for 14 in the third over, but the Black Caps pace man was punished for some wayward bowling, finishing with figures of 2 wickets for 65 runs from 9 overs.
Southee's inaccuracy forced the early introduction of Daniel Vettori, the veteran stifling the Australian batsmen with a tidy spell of two for 41 from 10.
But it was Trent Boult who became the Australians' tormenter with a fiery second spell that yielded five wickets.
Brad Haddin top-scored for Australia with 43 before Corey Anderson had him caught at cover-point to end the Australian innings.
Also on Saturday night, India crushed the United Arab Emirates by nine wickets in Perth.