3 Chris Cairns 102 not out vs India, 2000, Nairobi
Cairns was the architect behind New Zealand's first tournament win, beating India in the final of the ICC KnockOut (which morphed into the Champions Trophy). The century had Cairns' signature; a peppering of boundaries through the cover to mid-on arc. Even leg spinning legend Anil Kumble needed a taxi to collect his offerings as they disappeared over the Gymkhana Club fence. Cairns' flick off the hip to long leg with two balls to spare saw New Zealand home. His run down the wicket with arms spread personified unbridled joy.
4 Craig McMillan 117 vs Australia, 2007, Hamilton
McMillan came to the wicket with New Zealand flailing at 41 for four in the 10th over and played an innings of cold fury. He used his heavy blade - the "Smasher" - to slap Australians around Seddon Park in what seemed a futile chase for 347. New Zealand got there (350 for nine in 49.3 overs) because McMillan gave them belief. When he came to the wicket, they needed 306 runs at 7.49 an over; when he left they needed 66 runs at 7.61. He'd sustained a run rate of 7.46 and his 67-ball hundred remains the fastest by a New Zealander in a one-day international.
5 Nathan Astle 122 vs England, 2002, Dunedin
With the series level at 2-2, Astle's ton was the difference between two evenly-matched teams. Chasing 219 to win, Astle balanced the pinch-hitting and anchor roles perfectly. He hammered his first 50 from 42 balls (including 46 in boundaries) before easing to his second off 85. He dispatched Andrew Flintoff into the stands to finish the game with seven balls to spare. Astle, in 223 matches, has 20 per cent (16 of 80) of all New Zealand's ODI centuries (Stephen Fleming is second with eight) and is 12th equal on the international list, level with Adam Gilchrist, who played 64 more matches.
6 Chris Cairns 102 not out vs South Africa, 2002, Brisbane
Channel Nine commentator Bill Lawry described Cairns' ton as "one of the best one-day knocks we have seen in 25 years of [one-dayers on] television". In his pomp, Cairns was one of the game's best entertainers and he blasted a cover drive on the first ball of the last over to score his century, win the match and take New Zealand into the tri-series competition lead. That was quite a feat given the strength of the Australian and South African sides. New Zealand eventually lost to South Africa in the finals.
7 Scott Styris 101 vs Australia, 2005, Christchurch
Styris' knock was the spine of a then world record run chase of 332 for eight with six balls to spare. It was surpassed by South Africa hauling in Australia's 434 at the Wanderers the following March. Styris delivered a composed innings; seizing on any loose Australian bowling, posting his ton at better than a run a ball. Brendon McCullum finished the game off but Styris was a worthy man-of-the-match. The win broke a duck of eight straight losses against Australia and avoided a Chappell-Hadlee Trophy white-wash. It followed frustration three nights earlier when New Zealand fell three short chasing 322.
8 Ross Taylor 131 not out vs Pakistan, 2011, Pallekele
Taylor produced an innings of Clark Kent/Superman proportions to help beat Pakistan and bolster fading public belief in the team's chances at the 2011 World Cup. The innings came off 124 balls but was split into 76 runs from 111 balls and ... 55 from 13. That surreal baker's dozen from Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq produced four fours and six sixes. Akhtar's ninth over went for 28 runs; Razzaq's fourth went for 30. Any doubts about Taylor's ability to lead from the front as a future captain were laid to rest on what was also his 27th birthday.
9 Mark Greatbatch 102 vs England, 1990, Leeds
Greatbatch's maiden one-day international century came under considerable pressure at Headingley, chasing down England's 295 for six with one ball to spare in 55-over games. The big left-hander made his century in the final over, finishing with 102 off 104 balls, and combined with Ian Smith to hammer 37 off the last four overs. Greatbatch followed with 111 in the second and final ODI at The Oval, the only time a New Zealander has scored back-to-back tons in the one-day format.
10 Stephen Fleming 116 not out vs Australia, 1997, Melbourne
Still early in his reign as skipper, Fleming guided New Zealand to their only win over Australia in the tournament. It gave New Zealand respectability, especially after bookmakers had them as 20-to-1 winners midway through their innings. New Zealand needed 83 from the last 10 overs and Fleming held his nerve, becoming just the second Kiwi to score an international century at the MCG. The other was Bruce Edgar (102 not out) in the underarm ODI fixture of 1981.
11 Martin Guptill 122 vs West Indies, 2009, Auckland
Weather meant there was no result but Guptill deserves a spot for creating history. He became the first New Zealander (and fifth player) to carve out a century on ODI debut - two more (including New Zealander Rob Nicol) have done it since. Guptill slotted in behind West Indian great Desmond Haynes (148) on the list of highest debutant scores. The highlight was his unconventional means of getting to 100. On 97, he danced down the wicket and pasted spinner Chris Gayle over mid-wicket into the top tier of the Eden Park's west stand.
