Brendon McCullum bowed out of one-day internationals with a win as New Zealand beat Australia by 55 runs at Hamilton to win the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.
The Black Caps captain, one of the most destructive hitters in the game, was playing in his 260th and final ODI and signs off with 6,083 runs and five centuries.
New Zealand were bowled out for a below-par 246, with McCullum contributing a typically rapid 47, but Australia could not take advantage and Usman Khawaja top-scored with 44 as they were skittled for 191.
“I’ve been incredibly lucky to play for 14 years and represent my country and play with some great blokes and make some good friends,” McCullum said at the post-match presentation shown. “Not just in my own country but in other countries as well.
“Not many people get that opportunity and I want to thank everyone for supporting me and supporting this team over a long period of time.
“The memories will hold for the rest of my life.”
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The Australians gave McCullum a guard of honour on his way to the wicket and they may have regretted such hospitality as the 34-year-old batsman went out with a bang.
He smashed his 47 off just 27 balls, clearing the boundary three times while also hitting six fours. When he effortlessly clipped Scott Boland off his pads over deep square leg in the eighth over, he brought up his 200th career ODI six.
With the home crowd sensing something special, McCullum’s fun ended three runs short of his half-century when he skied Mitchell Marsh to mid-off before leaving the field to a standing ovation.
He departed with the hosts on 84 in the 10th over and with Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson at the crease, the Black Caps would have been eyeing a hefty score.
However, shortly after Guptill passed his 50 off 50 balls, both men departed within 11 balls of each other and it sparked a capitulation.
Grant Elliott offered some resistance with a half-century, but any hopes of a sizeable target were blown away as the hosts lost their final five wickets for just nine runs in 15 balls.
Khawaja and David Warner (16) both made quickfire contributions in reply but when Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell fell in the space of three balls to Ish Sodhi, Australia were 94 for four.
Marsh and George Bailey then added 59 for the fifth wicket before Bailey’s scratchy 33 from 60 balls was ended when he was bowled by Matt Henry, who claimed his 50th ODI wicket.
Marsh had made 41 off 42 balls but exited in controversial fashion as he got an inside edge onto his boot with Henry appealing for a caught and bowled. The umpires took a long time to deliberate and it appeared that they did not go to the third umpire until they had seen the replay on the big screen.
The final four wickets then fell in 10 overs, Henry finishing with three for 60, as New Zealand clinched the series 2-1.
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