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This was one of the great counter-attacking innings, one of the greatest career rescues; quite simply one of the most staggering run-chases in the history of the game.
Charged with mounting the second-highest pursuit in one-day international cricket, New Zealand and hero-of-the-hour Craig McMillan pulled off the unthinkable last night when they recovered from an early slump to beat Australia by one wicket.
Seemingly without hope after the tourists racked up 346 for five courtesy of Matthew Hayden's unbeaten 181, NZ collapsed to 41 for four before being resuscitated by a record-breaking and match-winning century from McMillan.
The 30-year-old right-hander, his career in tatters after being dropped after last season's Chappell-Hadlee series, was left off NZ Cricket's contract list this year and had started applying for employment outside the game, without much success.
However, the sales industry's loss became the Black Caps' gain last night when he peeled off the fastest century by a New Zealander, the third of his career and his highest individual score, while leading his side within 66 runs of the win.
McMillan required just 67 deliveries to smash his way to three figures, in the process eclipsing the previous record held by Jacob Oram (71 balls), and giving his side a chance at what later became one of their greatest triumphs.
"It's very hard to explain the feeling, especially after Auckland," McMillan said last night.
"I didn't think it could get any better after Auckland. At four for 41 we didn't have a lot to lose and sometimes you can be dangerous in that sort of mode.
"Brendon [McCullum] came in and played a great innings, keeping me in check and picking off the boundaries when we needed them. The rate never really became unachievable."
McMillan hoped he'd silenced some of the doubters over the past week.
"It's been a good couple of games and the injection that I've needed.
"I haven't played an innings like that for 18 months and hopefully I've shown a few people that I can still bat and that I've still got something to offer the side."
Assisted first by Peter Fulton in a 75-run fifth-wicket stand, the Canterbury veteran turned on the afterburners in tandem with McCullum, the pair breaking the New Zealand sixth-wicket record against all countries with an inspired 165-run partnership.
The effort rubbed out the previous highest, the 130-run stand between the late Ken Wadsworth and former skipper Bevan Congdon at Christchurch in 1973-74.
McMillan, who crashed a 27-ball half-century at Auckland on Sunday, carried on in a similar vein last night. He brought up his 50 off 39 balls, his century off just 28 further deliveries, and ended up lashing 13 fours and five sixes.
McCullum needed no second invitation to follow suit. He brought up his fifth ODI half-century off 66 balls before taking on the responsibility of leading his side through to the second-highest successful run-chase in the history of the game.
The little right-hander's 86 off 89 balls was his highest ODI score and underlined the seniority he has brought to his game over the past season, particularly in terms of playing supporting roles and establishing partnerships.
New Zealand needed seven runs off the final over when McCullum struck Nathan Bracken over backward square for six, before flaying the winning runs through point two balls later - sparking delirious scenes among the 11,845- strong crowd.
It was the first time New Zealand had swept Australia in a three-match series.
The result catapulted Stephen Fleming's side to No 3 on the ODI rankings, behind the Neighbours and the new world No 1 side, South Africa.
The result would have been a bitter pill for Hayden, whose unbeaten 181 was the eighth-equal highest individual score in ODI history, the highest by an Australian, and the highest on New Zealand soil.
To make the knock even more astounding, the Queensland left-hander suffered a broken bone in his right foot when on 102.
However, he carried on with the assistance of a runner to smear the NZ attack to all points of the compass.
Having brought up his half-century off 82 balls, Hayden moved into top gear - taking only 45 balls to bring up his seventh ODI hundred and just 26 more to raise his 150.
By the time he limped off at the end of the innings, he'd not only stormed past Mark Waugh's all-time Australian record of 173, but had blasted 11 sixes in the process, equalling the world record set by Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya and Pakistan's Shahid Afridi.
Hayden and Shane Watson set the scene for Australia with a 122-run stand for the opening wicket.
From there, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin pummelled a quickfire 38 off 31 to ensure the tourists were able to maintain momentum.
But it was McMillan's night.
"I've always had the belief in myself, but sometimes it gets knocked about," he said.
"It was great to get the runs but the result was the crucial aspect for me, really.
"We've shown we can chase just about any total."
