New Zealand’s last pair of Kane Williamson and Trent Boult said their edge-of-the-seat, one-wicket World Cup triumph over Australia yesterday will live in the memory for a long time.
Chasing a modest 152-run target, New Zealand were facing an improbable defeat at 146 for nine with No 11 batsman Boult walking in to face the last two deliveries from Mitchell Starc, who had nearly turned the tables with a career best six for 28.
But Boult survived both balls, leaving it to Williamson to hit Pat Cummins for a straight six to bring up the win as a capacity 40,000 Eden Park crowd gave them a standing ovation.
The win ensured New Zealand’s spot in the quarter-finals with four wins in as many Pool A games and leaves them favourites to qualify in first place for the knockout stages.
“I was looking to hit a boundary, ideally a six after the new batsman came in. It was tough, so my plan was to hit it and I did,” said Williamson, who made 45 not out as New Zealand sealed victory after 23.1 overs.
Boult, who had earlier taken a career-best five for 27, which sent Australia crashing to 151 all out, was desperate not to let his side down when he came out to the middle to join Williamson.
“I was pretty pumped up, but Kane quickly slowed it down for me, simplified it for me that if I play the two balls then we could move forward,” he said.
New Zealand were cruising along with Williamson and Corey Anderson (26) involved in a 52-run stand for the fifth wicket before Starc pushed them back as five wickets fell for just 15 runs.
“I was just trying to keep that total out of my mind, I suppose, and just bat long enough to have a chance of getting across the line,” Williamson said.
“I think Australia bowled outstandingly and made it difficult for us.
“Starc was superb and swung the ball throughout, but it was nice to cross the line, it doesn’t matter how you do it. We had a scare, but it’s nice to win.”
Williamson said he did not realise the damage Starc would cause when he took a single in the 23rd over and the Australian dismissed Adam Milne and Tim Southee with successive in-swinging yorkers that crashed into their stumps.
“Every run looked quite significant and with three wickets left I thought it was OK to get a single, but obviously it became tough,” he said. “But Trent showed a cool nerve and kept out those two balls and gave me an opportunity, so it was a team effort.”
Boult said he just tried to bowl in the right areas when he ripped through the Australians, who had looked well set for a good score at 80 for one before they lost eight wickets for 26 runs, and it took some late big hitting from Brad Haddin (43) to see them to 151.
“I am just trying to do what I have been doing for the last five or six months. I swung the ball and had some luck with some drag-ons, but definitely I will remember it as it set up a reasonably low total and we chased that down,” he said.
Williamson said the win over Australia means a lot to New Zealand, and not just for what it means for their chances of winning Pool A.
“Australia are the No 1 in the world,” he said.
“Whenever you play them it’s tough, they don’t give you easy runs and wickets so winning against them is good.”
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