Adam Milne catches England captain Eoin Morgan at Westpac Stadium. Photo / Getty Images
Adam Milne flew through the air, arms outstretched, hands open and the ball stuck.
The lanky Manawatu lad didn't appear to have it under control but his catch to dismiss English captain Eoin Morgan today from the bowling of Daniel Vettori was a blinder.
A bumper Wellington crowd of 30,148 rose when Milne made the grab and they watched on with awe when it was replayed on the big screen.
The days of a pace bowler being a liability in the field are long gone and there are few weak links in this New Zealand fielding unit.
Corey Anderson saves runs in the gully and leaps about like a jack in the box, while Martin Guptill might have pogo sticks attached to his feet at point. Captain Brendon McCullum has been drinking from a fountain of youth recently too.
Former New Zealand skipper Martin Crowe predicted before the World Cup that fielding could be a defining factor at the tournament and the Black Caps are maybe as good as it gets.
"We've prided ourselves on being one of the best fielding sides in the world for a number of years now and it is an attitude thing," pace bowler Tim Southee said.
"I think that's led from Brendon himself, the way he throws himself around in the field and if he's doing that it sets the standard for the rest of the team to follow."
Vettori returned the favour to Milne when the veteran spinner held a high catch as Milne picked up the last wicket of the English innings yesterday as they were rolled for a paltry 123. New Zealand eventually cruised to an eight-wicket win.
The 36-year-old Vettori was limited to a supporting role behind Southee's record-setting 7-33 as he claimed 1-19 from seven overs.
There was a debate around whether Nathan McCullum or Vettori would be the preferred spinner for New Zealand during the World Cup but Vettori is fast proving it wasn't a close contest.
Wellington has also been a happy hunting ground for Vettori who, in 20 matches at the Cake Tin, has a remarkable economy rate of 3.80.
Vettori's role isn't about taking wickets, it's about tying up an end and squeezing the life out of the opposition and his accurate bowling is proving a perfect foil for New Zealand's dangerous seam attack.
While Southee swung his way in to the almanack, Vettori was wheeling down dot balls like he has since he first played for New Zealand in the 1990s.
This World Cup may be Vettori's last act in one-day internationals for New Zealand but he is a vital piece of the puzzle for the surging Black Caps.
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The White Ferns have remarkably reached the final.