Without a doubt, today's Cricket World Cup clash between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park is the match of the event to date.
The two teams are the form sides of the tournament and, at this early stage, appear on course to contest the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The New Zealand Herald's expert sports panel provides commentary on all the action from the Black Caps v Australia World Cup match at Eden Park today.
We will keep you up to date with all the action throughout the day. Scroll down for our live match statistics, including the live scorecard and ball-by-ball updates.
7.32pm: NEW ZEALAND WIN! Kane Williamson says enough is enough. During that Starc over he stood at the non-strikers end and watched the wickets tumble. The game looked as good as gone when Trent Boult came to the crease and had to see out two Starc balls to give KW a chance at the other end. He managed to just hold on. Pat Cummins came in for the next over and KW had obviously made his mind up to take the matter in hand. He gave himself a bit of room and smashed a pretty decent full ball down the ground for six to give NZ the win. What a brave, brave thing to do. You have to admire the daring and the self-belief. The crowd went nuts, and so ended one of the great days of New Zealand cricket.
7.30pm: New Zealand 146-9 (23 overs) What an over that was from Starc. He has decimated NZ's lower order. Six to win, one wicket in hand.
7.25pm: New Zealand 146-9 (22 overs) ANOTHER WICKET! Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear. Adam Mline gets absolutely cleaned up by a Mitchell Starc yorker. Six runs still needed for the win. Just as I wrote that - guess what? ANOTHER WICKET. Starc cleans up Tim Southee first ball. Six to win, one wicket in hand.
7.22pm: New Zealand 145-7 (22 overs) ANOTHER WICKET! Vettori goes this time, lamely chipping a pat Cummins full-toss to Dave warner at mid on. Anybody nervous? New Zealand still needs six runs to complete the win. Adam Milne comes to the crease. But where there's Williamson there's hope, and KW is still at the crease. Ian Smith sounds nervous in the comm box. The crowd seems a bit edgy.
7.17pm: New Zealand 143-6 (21 overs) WICKET! Nothing comes easy against Australia. Starc bowls a peach of a delivery, short, fast spearing in towards Ronchi's body. Ronchi rocked back in his stance and the ball clipped his gloves on the way through, giving Haddin an easy catch and NZ a few more nervous moments. Vettori joins Williamson at the crease. Nine runs for the win.
7.15pm: New Zealand 139-5 (21 overs) The Black Caps need just 13 runs for victory now. Williamson has played a great hand this evening, 35 off 37 balls.
7.05pm: New Zealand 131-5 (20 overs) WICKET! Anderson goes, chipping a a catch to Pat Cummins off the bowling of Glenn Maxwell. Anderson gets down on one knee and tried to hoick it over cow corner. He didn't get enough of it though, his miscued hit lobbing to Cummins. It looked uncontroversial, but Anderson didn't leave the field immediately as the replay on the big screen showed that Cummins almost grassed it. But the umpires seemed convinced, so Ronchi comes to the crease.
7.03pm: New Zealand 130-4 (19 overs) Starc has an lbw shout against Anderson turned down. Clarke, nowing the game is almost up, goes upstairs for a review, which shows that it would have just clipped leg stump. Not out. Cue DRS debtate between Ian Smith and Shane Warne.
6.55pm: New Zealand 122-4 (17.3 overs) Just 34 runs needed for a famous win over Australia. Shane Warne has just called the Black Caps a "fantastic cricket team". There are something you think you'll never hear, and that was one of them. Williamson on 25, Anderson on 26. The partnership is worth 43 and proving to be very vaulable indeed.
6.45pm: New Zealand 108-4 (15 overs) That's more like it! Anderson hits two fours and a six off a Mitchell Johnson over - 16 from it all up. It wasn't particularly convincing stuff from Anderson, but it has brought the total needed down to 44.
Mitchell Johnson is 0/68 from five overs. Is that bad? It seems bad. #CWC15#NZvAus
6.41pm: New Zealand 92-4 (14 overs) After a frenetic four or so hours, things have ground to a halt out there at Eden Park. Wiiliamson and Anderson are slowly trying to chip away at Australia's low total. They only need another 60 for the win, but has 60 runs ever felt so far away?
6.28pm: New Zealand 81-4 (11 overs) Starc bowls a brilliant over to Anderson - beats him all ends up twice and had him looking anxious and timid. It's funny to see how the mood has shifted in the corwd as well. When McCullum was out there they were drunk on boundaries. Now they're giving singles standing ovations. Each run counts I guess ...
Someone send Corey Anderson a lifejacket because he is lost at sea here #AUSvNZ
6.25pm: New Zealand 81-4 (10 overs) This game is delicately poised at the moment. If New Zealand could put together a few good overs, they'll be halfway to finishing it. But by the same token, another wicket or two would - one feels - swing the balance to Australia. Cummins and Starc are bowling with real meance. But if ever a situation was made for Kane Williamson's level head, then this is it. Commentator Michael Slater says he can feel belief in the Australian side, and you know what - I believe him.
Anyone else worried ? Australia look impressive with the ball. NZ 81 for 4.
6.15pm: New Zealand 79-4 (8.2 overs) WICKET! Oh dear ... Elliott get his poles knocked over first ball back after the break. It was a stunning delivery but Elliott didn't move his feet at all. He looked like a very nervous man. NZ is four down now. That doddle of a run chase is starting to look decidedly trickey. Corey Anderson comes to the crease.
6.10pm: New Zealand 79-3 (8.1 overs) We're about to get back underway after the tea break. Just to get you back into the swing of things, here are the fundamentals. The Black Caps need a further 73 runs for victory. They have seven wickets in hand and 41.5 overs remaining. On the face of it, it should be a straightforward task from here, but Australian cricket teams have shown through the years that they like to fight to the bitter end. Expect no less here. Williamson and Grant Elliott at the crease. Come on, lads.
6.02pm Martin Crowe is inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame during the tea break. There can be none more deserving of the honour. A true great of the game.
5.29pm: New Zealand 79-3 (8.1 overs) ANOTHER WICKET! On the cusp of the scheduled break, Mitchell Starc bowls Ross Taylor. Taylor's indifferent form at this World Cup continues. The players head off for a 40-minute break, and while the Black Caps are sitting in a healthy position needing just just 73 runs with 40-odd overs to spare, there will be a few nerves in the changing shed. These small run chases have a habit of going down to the wire. Stay tuned for all the action after the break.
5.27pm: New Zealand 78-2 (8th over) WICKET! McCullum goes. He slaps a short-pitched Cummins delivery tennis-style straight to Mitchell Starc at mid-off. The New Zealand skipper walks off to a rousing ovation, having scored 50 off 24 balls. Ross Taylor comes to the crease to join Williamson. No run outs here, boys. Please.
Jeez that looked like a painful blow to the arm. It'll be black and blue tomorrow. Or white and gold, I don't know what to believe anymore.
5.21pm: New Zealand 71-1 (7 overs) McCullum brings up his 50 off just 21 balls. He is fast assuming legend status (if he hasn't acheived it already). Ian Smith is waxing lyrical in the commentary box. He reckons that as far as sport occassions go in New Zealand, this game tops everything. All Blacks included. Interesting thoughts, Smithy.
5.14pm: New Zealand 55-1 (6 overs) Heroic stuff from McCullum here. That elbow must be giving him all sorts of grief, but he's stood his ground and is continuing to swing with all the vim and vigour we've come to expect from him. He's gone to 35 off 17 deliveries and is propelling NZ towards a famous win.
5.12pm: New Zealand 50-1 (5 overs) The Black Caps bring up 50. McCullum has raced along to 31 off 13 balls. Kane Williamson is at the other end. New Zealand need a further 102 runs for victory.
5.05pm: New Zealand 40-1 (4 overs) WICKET! New Zealand lose their first wicket. Starc picks up Guptill, who tried to hit down the ground but picks out Pat Cummins.
5.00pm: New Zealand 39-0 (3 overs) McCullum continues the onslaught, whacking Johnson for two fours. Michael Clarke slows things down mid-over, making a slew of field changes. It was a good move from a tactical point of view, just taking the sting out of the Black Caps' momentum. When play gets underway again, Johnson fires in a nasty delivery that spits off the pitch and crashes into the point of McCullum's elbow. At 150km/h. McCullum is being all South Dunedin about it, but it obviously hurt. The elbow swells up immediately and it looks ugly. But he carries on in true fighting spirt and top edges Johnson's next ball for four. 113 to win, by the way.
4.49pm: New Zealand 25-0 (2 overs) McCullum signals his intentions immediately. He charges Mitchell Starc's first ball (bowled at 147km/h), but the big left-armer pushes it wide of the swinging New Zealand captain. Next ball McCullum stands still and smashes Starc over wide long-off for six. Take some of that. The crowd laps it up. A few balls go by before he's at it again. Starc puts one in the slot that McCullum slaps down the ground for a one-bounce four. hang on to your hats - this is going to be exciting.
4.46pm: New Zealand 11-0 (1 over) What a start to the innings. Mitchell Johnson's first delivery was a no ball which Martin Guptill flicked fine for four. That gave Guptill a free hit off the next ball, which he duly slapped over cover for an enormous six. Johnson did build his speed up nicely in the remainder of the over, though, clocking close to 150km/h mark. Expect him to ask a few questions of Guptill and McCullum.
4.40pm We have that peculiar situation again that has happened in the last three Black Caps games. Because they've bowled Australia out so quickly, New Zealand will bat up to the scheduled innings break. Strap in for McCullum v Johnson.
4.32pm: Australia all out for 151 WICKET! Corey "Golden Arm" Anderson comes on and does what he does best - take wickets from nowhere. He has Haddin driving at an innocuous full delivery. It wasn't quite there for the drive and he gets a thick edge that flies to backward point. That's all she wrote for the Australians. They're out for 151 from only 32.2 overs. Staggering really when you consider they were 80-2 at one point and going along at well over six an over. Boult gets a standing ovation as he walks off the ground and he's milking the applause for all it's worth - and who can blame him? His 5-27 has turned this game on its head. Stay tuned, folks. We'll have a full innings report up shortly.
4.25pm: Australia 144-9 (31 overs) The players are having a well-earned drink. It's a hot one out there. Here are some thoughts from our man at the ground, Dylan Cleaver:
Well, where were we last time we talked ... that's right, New Zealand had made a double-breakthrough just before the first drinks break to pin back Australia's red-hot start. Even stevens I might have called it.
A bit has happened since then.
Trent Boult came on and took 5-3 off five overs. It messed up Australia a bit. Brad Haddin is still fighting hard, hoping to somehow wheedle a 200 total.
4.20pm: Australia 144-9 (31st over) Haddin's gone to 36 now and is manipulating the strike nice. In saying that, Cummins is no bunny, and looks more than capable of holding his own. This partnership, which is worth 34 now, is a good reminder for all Black Caps fans out there is keep things in check. If Australia can post 180 they'll be right in it, especially when you consider the firepower they have in their bowling attack. The crowd has gone just a little bit quiet.
4.14pm: Australia 135-9 (29 overs) Haddin and Cummins continue to defy New Zealand. Southee now has figures of 2-61 off eight overs. Expensive, yes, but his wickets - that of Finch and Warner - were crucial to the Black Caps' cause.
I don't say it often, but man I wish I had some Australian friends right now. #NZLvAUS#CWC2015
4.09pm: Australia 129-9 (28 overs) Good start from Milne. He was consistently above the 150km/h mark.
4.06pm: Australia 124-9 (27 overs) Boult finishes his spell with figures of 5-27 off 10 overs. Magic performance from the Northern Districts man. He's certainly proved to everybody that he's worth his new-found IPL riches. Haddin, meanwhile, is doing a bit of a hatchet job here. He's hit a run-a-ball 24 and is doing his best to give the Australian innings some respectability. Big decision for McCullum - he's brought on Adam Milne for his first over. His speed could be just what the Black Caps need to finish the innings off, but then again, balls bowled at 150kp/h have a habbit of flying to and over the boundary.
3.56pm: Australia 124-9 (25 overs) Vettori finishes his spell with 2-41 off 10 overs. Gets a huge hand from the crowd. That could be a match-winning performance. He came on when Australia were flying at the top of the innings. New Zealand needs to finish this Australian innings off. We don't want a repeat of the Andy Bichel- Michael Bevan partnership at the 2003 World Cup. Knowing that Johnson and Starc are going to be steaming in later in the day, McCullum will want to be chasing as few runs as possible.
Bangladesh must be pissed off watching this. Rain robbed them of an easy win.#NZvAus
3.45pm: Australia 107-9 (23 overs) The crowd is absolutely lapping this up. It sounds like an English football match out there. Boult and Vettori have been New Zealand's heroes so far. As good as things are going, McCullum will be eager to keep the foot on the throat and snare the last wicket. Pat Cummins and Haddin are at the crease.
3.41pm: Australia 106-8 (22nd over) ANOTHER WICKET! Boult strikes again, picking up Johnson this time. It was a limp effort from Johnson. He back away to a full ball and just spooned a dolly of a catch to Williamson at cover. Shades of Stuart Broad there last week. And as I write this BOULT STRIKES AGAIN! He knocks out Mitchell Starc's middle stump to claim his fifth wicket. This is turning out to be another famous day for New Zealand cricket. Australia are threatening to break the record for their lowest score at a World Cup, which was 121.
3.34pm: Australia 104-7 (20 overs) WICKET! Boult strikes again! I'm almost geeting tired of writing that .... almost. What a ride this is turning out to be. Michael Clarke plays on the up at a wideish delivery but hits it straight to Kane Williamson at short cover. The commentators are lauding McCullum's captaincy there, and it was an intelligent field to set to Clarke who likes to drive uppishly through the covers. Mitchell Johnson comes to the crease. The Australians in the comm box, including Brett Lee, sound very subdued.
3.27pm: Australia 97-6 (18 overs) WICKET! Marsh goes, chopping on from Boult. What an over from the left-armer. New Zealand are all over Australia here like a cheap suit. Haddin comes to the crease.
3.25pm: Australia 96-5 (18th over) WICKET! Boult strikes - he picks up Maxwell, who chops on a wide delivery. Some show that was Glenn. The Black Caps are right on top here. We've barely been going an hour but already this match has see-sawed all over the place. The crowd roars with approval. Mitchell Marsh and Michael Clarke at the crease.
3.19pm: Australia 96-4 (17 overs) WICKET! That man Vettori strikes. He picks up Steve Smith for four, caught behind by Ronchi. Glenn "The Big Show" Maxwell comes to the crease.
This from Dylan Cleaver, out man at the ground, as the players have a drink.
Firecracker start to this match, as you'd expect between two quality, ultra-attacking teams. You'd have to call it evens at the first break. Tim Southee looked toey early and even the wicket of Aaron Finch didn't totally calm him. Southee has looked better from the northern end of the ground, but it was the brave, early introduction of Daniel Vettori who has turned this around for New Zealand. He has been near impeccable; his worst ball possibly the one that brought about Shane Watson's wicket.
3.10pm: Australia 87-3 (15 overs) I know I keep banging on about Vettori, but consider this. When he came on Australia were going at over 10 an over. Because the fielding restrictions were still on he only had two men out in the deep for protection. He's gone on (with some help, sure) to reduce that run rate to 5.80. In doing so he's compiled figures of 1-15 off five overs. Great stuff.
3.00pm: Australia 80-3 (13th over) WICKET! Southee strikes this time, picking up dangerman David Warner for 34. Double break-through for the Black Caps, and boy didn't they need that. Southee pitches it up a little further than he has been and traps Warner in front. It was given out immediately, but Warner reviewed. It turned out to be a close-run thing, with the ball just clipping the bails. Southee has two wickets now. Are we going to see a repeat of his Cake Tin heroics a week ago? Michael Clarke and Steve Smith are at the crease. The 40,000-plus crowd roars "South-ee, South-ee". Great scenes.
2.58pm: Australia 80-2 (13 overs) WICKET! Vettori strikes. Watson tries to pull a shortish ball but picks out Tim Southee in the deep. Just reward for Dan Vettori. Watson departs for 23.
2.54pm: Australia 76-1 (12 overs) After starting with a wide, Southee recovers nicely. That Australian run rate is creeping down - it's at 6.33 now. The next question is when we are likely to see Adam Milne. It will be a baptism of fire out there for the young speedster today.
2.50pm: Australia 73-1 (11th over) Southee back into the attack. Starts with a wide. Come on, Tim!
2.45pm: Australia 68-1 (10 overs) Watson smashes Boult to the square-leg boundary on the last ball of the over. It was a shame because the left-armer had bowled nicely up to that point. Even with that blip, New Zealand has pegged things back here. From a run-rate of over 10 an over, Australia are now travelling at a rate of 6.80. The Aussie batsmen are treateing Vettori with a lot of respect. Shane Warne in the commentary box calls him a "clever bowler".
2.42pm: Australia 63-1 (10th over) Missed chance. Vettori has Warner cutting, but the Aussie batsman couldn't control it. A thick edge ballooned out towards Trent Boult at backward point. Boult gets some fingertips to it, but can't snaffle the catch. It was a tough one, but to beat Australia you need special things to fall your way.
2.36pm - Australia - 57-1 (8 overs) You can't put a value on experience. Vettori comes on with Warner and Watson going gang-busters and bowls a superb over for only two runs. Boult's backing it up with a tidy over himself. The Black Caps are slowly edging back into the encounter after a blistering start from the men in canary yellow.
2.30pm - Australia 51-1 (6 overs) Seeing David Warner at the crease makes you realise just how small the dimensions are at Eden Park. He and Watson look in great touch here, which is ominous for Black Caps fans. Well, well ... I suggested Vettori a few moments ago and Brendon McCullum has just obliged. Here comes the veteran.
2.25pm - Australia 48-1 (5 overs) David Warner is giving Tim Southee some tap here. Southee is digging it in fairly short, but Warner is too good for that, and is just helping the ball to the boundary. Australia are sailing along here at just a tick under 10 an over. The Black Caps will know that wickets are the only way to control the run rate. Maybe time for Vettori?
2.12pm - Australia 30-1 (3rd over) WICKET! Southee strikes. Australian opener Aaron Finch clubbed Southee for six off the first ball of the over, and then was clean bowled on the next ball. Southee went wide on the crease and Finch just seemed to miss it. Didn't look as though it moved too much. The crowd roars into life - what an atmosphere. Shane Watson comes to the crease for Australia.
2.11pm - Australia 24-0 (2 overs) A better over from Trent Boult, but Aussie opener David Warner has provided a clear indication of how dangerous Eden Park's short boundaries are going to be. Boult dug in a threatening short ball which beat Warner for pace, but his uncontrolled top edge flew down to thrid man for six.
2.06pm: Australia 15-0 (1 over) Not a great start from Tim Southee - he's gone for 15 in the first over. It was an uncharacteristically erratic over, with Southee unable to find his line and length.
1.52pm We're a matter of minutes away from getting started at Eden Park. To keep you entertained in the meantime, take a look at this video from yachties Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.
1.36pm Australian captain Michael Clarke has won the toss and decided to bat.
New Zealand have three wins from three matches at the tournament and have kept the same team. A fourth victory today would mean they are in a prime position to top the pool. New Zealand have lost four of their last five ODIs against Australia at the venue but have not played them at Eden Park since the ground was reconfigured on a North-South axis in 2010.
Australia need a victory after a 111-run defeat of England at Melbourne and a washout to Bangladesh in Brisbane. Pat Cummins comes in for Josh Hazlewood and Michael Clarke returns from hamstring surgery to lead the side in place of George Bailey.
The weather is expected to be fine all day with a high of 27.
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (c), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult.
Australia: Michael Clarke (c), David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins.
1.20pm Good afternoon everybody, and welcome to the Herald's coverage of today's Cricket World Cup encounter between the Black Caps and Australia. The match promises to be something special, with our cricket writer Dylan Cleaver calling it the most anticipated New Zealand game in two decades.
There were some concerns earlier in the week that the weather wouldn't hold, but I'm pleased (and relieved) to report that the Auckland skies have turned on a bobby dazzler. It's sunny and very warm in the City of Sails.
We'll be bringing you updates on the action throughout the day, including expert analysis from our men at the ground, and all the best photos and tweets from the game. Hope you can stay with us.
