Impressive win a psychological boost for Black Caps

Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum are all smiles as they leave the pitch. Phil Walter / Getty Images

The Chappell-Hadlee trophy might be gone but who cares, the Black Caps are the new world record-holders.

Just when you thought it was safe to write them off, the under-fire New Zealanders pulled off the greatest run-chase in one-day international history to beat Australia last night at Jade Stadium.

It was almost enough to erase the pain of eight consecutive losses to the transtasman rivals.

In persistent drizzle against an inexperienced bowling attack, Brendon McCullum and captain Daniel Vettori dragged their battered team to the unlikeliest of victories with an over to spare.

Vettori played down his role in the chase while lauding that of his wicketkeeper.

"He was surprisingly calm," Vettori said. "My plan was to give him the single and let him hit sixes over cover, which doesn't happen that often, but he seems to be able to do it. I think the fact we'd been through it at Wellington helped a lot and we had a better idea of what we were doing. What we did today is something we'll treasure for a long time.

"It will kick-start our summer and give the guys a lot of confidence, especially with Sri Lanka coming in the new year."

By running down 331, they surpassed Australia's successful chase of South Africa's 326 at Port Elizabeth in 2002. It was also the first time New Zealand had successfully chased down a target of more than 300.

Led by a Scott Styris century and an amazing display of power hitting by Jacob Oram - who put one six on to the roof of the old stand - the Black Caps won this dead rubber. But as good as those two were, McCullum was the star. His 50 off 25 balls - three fours and four sixes - pushed him past 1000 ODI runs and New Zealand into the record books. Vettori was an able support with 23 from 12.

It broke a stretch of eight losses in a row to Australia, and seven losses in a row against any country, and seven losses in a row at home.

Vettori said he and John Bracewell went around the team during the break emphasising that they needed to do what they did in the second match in Wellington - where they fell two runs short at the death - on a smaller ground and an even better wicket.

"A world record against Australia after getting close in the last game and falling just short, it was great for us to get off the canvas and get across the line this time," McCullum said.

The psychological impact could be huge. As Vettori said: "The next time we play Australia we'll be coming off a winning streak of one as opposed to a losing streak of nine."

Without wanting to rain on the parade, it has to be noted that this was the weakest Australian attack since Kerry Packer decimated the ranks in 1977-78. Cam White, Shane Warne's heir apparent in the one-day team, had full command of the long hop and full toss only. Mitchell Johnson looked and bowled like a nervous debutant. The rest were only serviceable.

Vettori admitted that he was surprised, that Australia jettisoned the experienced Brad Hogg.

For the first time in his captaincy career, Ricky Ponting would have looked around and noticed he didn't have a go-to guy.

Styris' innings was a mixture of circumspection and slap hitting. He started slowly, raced between 20 and 80, then ambled to his century.

"It's nice to contribute in this series," Styris said. "I've been hitting the ball well so it's nice to contribute to the win."

Styris admitted he thought his dismissal at 258 had left the rest too much to do. "I certainly thought it made it a lot harder."

Not that the Black Caps should have been chasing such a seemingly unrealistic target. Batting was not easy early on.

Mills, in particular, was getting the ball to hop around early under Christchurch's grey skies, Adam Gilchrist falling second ball to one that straightened.

Simon Katich followed shortly after, nicking a ball from Chris Martin and having Styris take a sharp catch at second slip.

It was Martin's first foray into one-day internationals since February 2001, when he went wicketless against Pakistan at Hamilton.

Martin will count himself unlucky not to have the Australian skipper shortly after. On four, Ponting nicked one but McCullum couldn't hold the sharp chance.

It was costly. Ponting mixed bravado with brilliance to smash 75 off 67 balls in a 115-run partnership with Brad Hodge.

After Chris Cairns and Jacob Oram were found wanting at the bowling crease, Vettori entered the fray and struck twice. First he trapped Ponting on the crease with a skidding arm ball, then tempted Andrew Symonds to slog over the top after just two balls.

Symonds, the hero of Wellington, almost succeeded but Mills pulled off the catch at mid-off.

With Australia carrying a long tail yesterday, that could have been the signal for a collapse, but this Australian team seems to draw straws before the game to decide whose turn it is to score runs.

This time it was Hodge (59 from 83 balls), Michael Clarke (71 off 74) and Mike Hussey, who now has an average exceeding 150.

His 88 off 56 (with seven fours and five sixes) was an absolute gem and with Bracken he added 72 in the final five overs. Hussey, in his brief career, could already lay claim to being the premier closing batsman in ODI cricket.

Only McCullum would argue.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY