A Cullinan cracker blows Kiwis away

Chasing an improbable 291 for victory, the home side slumped to a disappointing 147 all out in front of a capacity 34,000 crowd at the first day-night match ever played at Eden Park.

Returning to the scene of his record breaking 275 not out a month earlier, Cullinan batted in dramatically different styleto post seven sixes and five fours in a savage display of batsmanship.

Only four players, Shahid Afridi (11), Sanath Jayasuriya (11), Ijaz Ahmed (9) and Gordon Greenidge (8) have hit more sixes in a ODI innings.

Jacques Kallis (100: 125b, 8×4, 1×6), who anchored the innings with his fifth ODI hundred, was completely outshone by Cullinan who reached 50 from 32 balls.

Scoreboard

South Africa: G Kirsten c Twose b Harris 70, H Gibbs lbw Allott 2, MBoucher c Fleming b Allott 0, J Kallis b Allott 100, Daryll Cullinan b Allott 94, L Klusener not out 13, H Cronje not out 7; Extras (b1, nb1, w2): 4. Total (for five wkts, 50 overs): 290

Fall of wkts: 1-11, 2-12, 3-124, 4-269, 5-270

Bowling: Allott 10-0-47-4, Nash 7-2-29-0, Larsen 7-0-48-0, Astle 10-0-72-0, Harris 7-0-37-1, Vettori 9-0-56-0.

New Zealand: M Horne b Kallis 27, N Astle c Rhodes b Pollock 4, B Young c Rhodes b Elworthy 24, S Fleming c Kallis b Elworthy 5, R Twose c Kallis b Klusener 0, A Parore c Rhodes b Cronje 16, C Harris c Cullinan b Cronje 31, D Nash c Kallis b Klusener 13, D Vettori c Boucher b Cronje 5, G Larsen run out 8, G Allott not out 0; Extras (lb8, w6): 14. Total (all out, 36.1 overs): 147

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-51, 3-67, 4-68, 5-70, 6-107, 7-123, 8-125, 9-147Bowling: Pollock 6-1-23-1, Kallis 7-1-31-1, Klusener 6.1-1-21-2, Elworthy 6-0-26-2, Cronje 6-0-26-3, Boje 5-0-12-0.