KEY POINTS:
Notwithstanding other flashing blades on both sides, two players caught the eye with centuries of different textures at Eden Park yesterday.
And there was a certain symmetry in both Michael Hussey and Ross Taylor, having each completed their second ODI hundreds, taking catches to dismiss the other. Adding
one extra layer, there was even an appropriate aspect to the type of catches they took.
Hussey, having crafted a marvellous 105 from only 84 balls, was spectacularly caught by Taylor, running in from long off and diving forward.
Taylor, the New Zealand tyro who walloped 117, was pouched with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency by Hussey at mid on.
Hussey's century spearheaded an Australian innings and should have been sufficient for victory; Taylor's made sure New Zealand's reply was always barrelling along. He often teetered on the brink, but was never dull and ultimately laid the foundation for a stunning win.
The stand-in Australian captain is a perfect example of a sportsman who has had to do the hard time to get his chance. His international debut didn't come until he was 28, three years ago.
So when it arrived, Hussey wasn't about to squander it. He averages over 68 in ODIs, 79 in tests. Against New Zealand in 13 innings, his average is a tasty 102.
His nickname is Mr Cricket and, clearly, when it comes to the game he is a driven man. You'd expect his first thought each day is not cornflakes or weetbix, but whether to use the bat with the red or blue grip.
His innings yesterday was assured, calculating, loaded with clean hitting - six times he sent the ball sailing into the crowd - full of purpose and with nothing wasted.
He had able lieutenants in Brad Hodge and Cameron White, who feasted on a dubious selection of pies served-up by the likes of Daryl Tuffey, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan and, ahem, Lou Vincent, so it wasn't his most demanding innings. No matter, the numbers are still in the book.
As for Taylor, 22 and with the cricket world at his feet, he'll never die wondering. He rode his luck superbly, the occasional dodgy inside edge followed by a lacing drive.
His second 50 was better than the first. At one point, he despatched White to the cover and point boundaries in three successive balls. Frequently he larruped the ball to the onside boundary.
His eye matches his nerve. He'll have days when he misses out, but there are many more thrilling days ahead.
Peter Fulton, McMillan and Brendon McCullum finished things off with a swagger. Think back a few weeks to the lurching performances around Australia. Crisis? For whom? These are indeed strange days.
The 10-wicket duffing in Wellington last Friday was among New Zealand's most emphatic wins over Australia; yesterday's, given the record target, perhaps the most remarkable.