A sensational off-the-toe catch by Matt Henry brought a fairytale end to Brendon McCullum’s ODI career when New Zealand beat Australia by 55 runs in Hamilton Monday.
The game that was in Australia’s favour until Henry’s dismissal of Mitchell Marsh, which led to McCullum ending his limited overs career with a 2-1 series win over the world champions and the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.
Australia, set a target of 247, had their tails up with 83 required off the last 16 overs, five wickets in hand and Marsh, their match-winner in Sunday’s second tie, in full flight.
But the momentum swung back in New Zealand’s favour when a Henry delivery edged off Marsh’s bat, on to his foot, and rebounded back to the bowler.
The umpire turned down an appeal from Henry, but when the replay on the big screen confirmed what Henry suspected the umpires called for an official review which showed the ball had not touched the ground and a clearly angry Marsh was given out.
From there the Australian innings collapsed with their last five wickets falling for 27 runs in 10 overs.
New Zealand’s innings had suffered an even worse meltdown when they lost their last six wickets for 23 to be all out for 246.
McCullum, one of the biggest hitters in the game, reeled off 47 in 27 deliveries to give New Zealand a flying start.
His innings included three sixes to give him 200 sixes in his 260-match ODI career which leaves him fourth on the overall list headed by Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi with 351.
Martin Guptill, who had played a support role while his captain was at the crease, took 61 balls for his 59, his 30th half century.
Grant Elliott (50) also hit a half century for the Kiwis, who were set to mount a late assault at 223-5 with 10 overs remaining but they imploded instead.
Australia in reply raced to 75-1 before losing Usman Khawaja (44), Steve Smith (21) and Glenn Maxwell (0) as Doug Bracewell and Ish Sodhi kept New Zealand in the game with three for 19 in an economical 44 deliveries.
Australia were 94-4 when Marsh went to the middle. He put on 59 with George Bailey for the fifth wicket and had reached 41 off 42 deliveries before his unusual dismissal and from there Australia folded.
Henry was New Zealand’s most successful bowler with three for 60 while Sodhi (8-0-31-2) and Bracewell (6-0-15-1) were the most economical.
