Top matches of 2015: 3) Williamson six gives Black Caps win over Australia

Reporter·NZ Herald·

28 Dec, 2015 07:00 PM2 mins to read

Kane Williamson celebates after hitting the winning six to beat Australia. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Kane Williamson lofted himself into cricketing folklore to beat Australia at Eden Park.

Yes, it was only a World Cup pool match, but the circumstances meant so much. Williamson deposited Pat Cummins over long-on with a match-winning six to finish 45 not out, leaving New Zealand nine down chasing 152.

The unforgettable television footage perhaps summed it up best. A cameraman immediately panned across a row of the grandstand where someone moshing in a 1992 tournament shirt was losing his mind to euphoria. He was not alone. The team adopted man-love as their protocol in the wake of Williamson's sangfroid.

Match report: Kane Williamson creates folklore

The result carried New Zealand to the top of their pool and the Chappell-Hadlee trophy.

"I was looking to hit a boundary, ideally a six, because it was quite tough the way [Mitchell] Starc swung the ball throughout the innings," Williamson explained. "I tried to keep the total out of my mind and just bat. It doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you do."

The Australians were subtle, too. Captain Michael Clarke made fielding adjustments within earshot of Williamson to pique his interest. He may as well have been trying to raid Fort Knox.

The theatre wouldn't have been out of place in London's West End as the runs and wickets ebbed and flowed.

Starc took 6-28 from nine overs with his devastating in-swingers as New Zealand wavered, despite reaching the target with 26.5 overs to spare.

The hosts were led by Trent Boult's maiden five-wicket ODI haul and an unbeaten 52-run fifth-wicket partnership between Williamson and Corey Anderson.

With Australia 48-1 after five overs, locals had every right to panic. Captain Brendon McCullum didn't. The slips were stacked and in-fielders enjoyed catching practice as Australia were dismissed for 151, their fifth-lowest ODI total against New Zealand.

Generally in Auckland, such a cacophony would result in a noise control call-out.