Matthew Hayden made history but it was Craig McMillan and Brendon McCullum’s explosive innings that led the BLACKCAPS to a Chappell-Hadlee Series clean sweep over Australia.
Hayden showed finesse and fortitude when carrying his bat for 181 from 166 deliveries to earn Australia 346 for four, their third-highest ODI total ever in New Zealand.
The veteran Queensland opener battled on despite a broken toe to complete one of limited-overs cricket’s greatest knocks, which contained 21 boundaries - 10 of those sixes.
But McMillan’s 117 from 96 balls, including 13 fours and five maximums, turned the BLACKCAPS around from a perilous 44 for four to the verge of victory.
The all-rounder shared a 75-run partnership with Peter Fulton (51) to stable the ship, before a 165-run stand with McCullum put the hosts in with a strong chance of success.
The Australians claimed three wickets in four overs, but McCullum stood his ground to finish off the good work with an unbeaten 86 to guarantee a dramatic one-wicket win and a 3-0 series victory.
Just as in the second match of the series in Auckland, the BLACKCAPS were handed massive target.
Michael Hussey won the toss and elected to bat. Hayden’s 122-run opening stand with Shane Watson, who provided a run-a-ball 68, showed it was a wise decision.
Jeetan Patel broke the stand, trapping Watson lbw for the first of his two wickets in the match. The second was a fine delivery which removed Brad Hodge’s off stump for 12.
Daryl Tuffey claimed the wicket of Brad Haddin (38), caught by Lou Vincent at mid-on, ending a pairing of 88.
Hayden, though was in was in irrepressible form.
His ferocious strike rate – he faced 166 deliveries - was hindered little by the injury mid-innings.
Mark Gillespie claimed two late wickets, Hussey and Cameron White both for 13, but the tourists maintained their devastating pace.
Hayden carried his bat for one of One-Day cricket’s best-ever innings, the highest ever in New Zealand limited overs cricket.
The early stages of the BLACKCAPS innings looked to be bolstering the tourists’ hopes of ending their uncharacteristic losing streak.
Openers Fleming (nine) and Vincent (11) put on 23 in 15 balls, before Shaun Tait accounted for both in the fourth and sixth overs.
Ross Taylor (11) and Scott Styris (no score) followed in quick succession as Australia’s attack seemed to have the BLACKCAPS on the ropes.
But the State Canterbury Wizards trio combined to devastating effect, and McCullum was the expert closer needed.
Gillespie provided a rapid 28 at two runs per ball to bring victory in sight, but was run out, bring last man Patel to the crease with eight required from seven balls.
A massive McCullum six over square leg tied the contest with five balls to go, but his claimed the win.
The BLACKCAPS eclipsed their previous best ODI total on home soil - set only 48 hours earlier in Auckland – to earn a historic triumph.
