Corey Anderson’s record-breaking century has hogged the limelight after New Zealand’s 160-run ODI win over the West Indies in Queenstown.
But Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum says Jesse Ryder’s contribution to the mammoth win was equally important.
Anderson, who finished the rain-shortened match on Wednesday unbeaten on 131 off 47 balls, combined with Ryder in a pivotal 191-run fourth wicket partnership as the Kiwis rocketed to 283-4 off 21 overs.
Ryder, who smashed 104 off 51 balls, also turned his arm over to telling effect in picking up 1-13 off four overs as the Windies struggled to 124-5.
McCullum admiringly described Ryder afterwards as the man with the golden arm.
“He can do anything, that bloke,” he said.
“We needed to bowl quick overs, and he seemed a logical guy – I thought he did a bloody good job.”
Ryder’s innings included 12 fours and five sixes, and was the sixth fastest ever in ODIs.
He was overshadowed, however, by Anderson’s whirlwind innings as the 23-year-old left-hander took just 36 balls to reach his century, the fastest ever in ODIs.
McCullum says Ryder’s knock, coming in just his second cricket international cricket in almost two years, played a key role in the win.
“He set the tone of the day, the way he played with his ball striking right from the get-go.
“It was also his choice of shots – it’s hard when you’re going as well as he was today to have the touch and the craft that he showed.”
Anderson’s 36-ball hundred eclipsed Pakistani Shahid Afridi’s previous record of 37 balls, set against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996.
McCullum described the innings as a once-in-a-lifetime performance.
“That to me is as clean a striking as I’ve ever witnessed – as good as I’ve ever seen.”
The win levels the five-match ODI series at 1-1 after the Windies took the first in a two-wicket win on Boxing Day and the second in Napier three days later was rained out.
The fourth ODI is scheduled for Saturday in Nelson, with the fifth in Hamilton on January 8.