Top 5 ODI finishers from New Zealand

The art of finishing the innings is one of the most incredibly challenging aspects of limited-overs cricket. In particular, the intricacies of the 50-over format demand an innate sense of manoeuvring the field and finding myriad ways to keep the scoreboard ticking. While batting in the top-order requires consistency, coming into the middle during the business stages of the innings becomes a gruelling examination of temperament.

In this segment, let us take a close look at five of the best finishers produced by New Zealand in ODIs. Traditionally, the Black Caps have played their most dynamic batsmen in the lower middle-order. In order to provide an accurate reflection of each player's prowess, only runs scored from batting positions five and six are taken into consideration. The players are enumerated on the basis of impact generated and performances against world-class bowling attacks.

---

#5 Chris Harris

Chris Harris' all-round prowess made him a utility player in the 1990s

With his versatile batting and dibbly-dobbly bowling, Chris Harris was an extremely valuable cricketer in the ODI arena during the 1990s. Adding his sparkling fielding into the equation, he was an all-round package for the Kiwis. He is one of only six cricketers to complete the double of 4000 runs and 200 wickets in the history of the 50-over format. The left-hander's penchant for finding even acute gaps in the field made him a difficult customer for opposition captains.

Harris got to bat at number five or six on 76 matches in his 14-year ODI journey. On those occasions, he scored 1634 runs at an average of 27.23 with one century and five fifties. A seemingly low strike-rate of 66.36 does not give a fitting reflection of his white-ball game. One has to consider the quality of bowling as well as nature of pitches during his era before arriving at a conclusion. The southpaw's 124-ball 130, albeit in a losing cause, put a strong Australian bowling attack to the sword in the quarter-finals of the 1996 World Cup.

#4 Scott Styris

Scott Styris had a profound understanding of the evolving 50-over game

Carrying on the mantle from the 1990s stars, Scott Styris upheld New Zealand's tradition of producing medium pace all-rounders in a reasonably stellar 12-year ODI career spanning from the 1999/2000 season to the 2011 World Cup. Aside from being a free-flowing batsman capable of lending sparkling finishing touches to the innings, he could also stem top-order implosions by operating in a sensible manner.

From 64 innings at either number five or six, Styris scored 1810 of his total career tally of 4483 runs. He averaged 30.16 and batted at a strike-rate of 76.53 with one century and 13 fifties in the lower middle-order. His finest ODI knock came against Australia in 2005. The right-hander's 96-ball ton helped New Zealand successfully chase down a mammoth total of 332 at Christchurch.

#3 Grant Elliot

Grant Elliot produced one of the greatest knocks in World Cup history

Born in Johannesburg, Grant Elliot left his native country in search of greener pastures at the turn of the millennium. After spending quite a few years in New Zealand's domestic circuit, the seasoned journeyman made his international debut for the Black Caps in 2008. While his Test career struggled to take off, the right-hander found his true calling in the white-ball arena.

His finishing skills first came into prominence during the 2009 Champions Trophy. Chasing 234 in the semi-final against Pakistan, New Zealand slumped to 71/3. Stitching vital partnerships, Elliot's unbeaten 75 vaulted the Kiwis into the final. However, a dip in form resulted in him losing his place in the team.

After earning a recall in 2013, Elliot established himself as a dependable lower middle-order batsman as well as a handy medium pace option with the ball. During the pulsating semi-final of the 2015 World Cup at Auckland, he knocked South Africa out with a truly astonishing knock. His 73-ball 84 remains one of the best performances in the history of the tournament. Until his retirement in 2016, he played 50 innings at either number five or six and scored 1415 runs at an average of 32.15 and strike-rate of 83.72 with one century and eight fifties.

#2 Craig McMillan

Craig McMillan had the intrinsic ability to clear the boundary with utmost ease

Capable of clearing the longest of boundaries with consummate ease, Craig McMillan was an integral part of New Zealand's lineup during his heydays. In a career spanning between 1997 and 2007, he predominantly manned the lower middle-order. In addition to his hitting prowess, the utility player also doubled up as a part-time seam option. He was among the rare all-round Kiwi cricketers who blossomed in both Tests and ODIs.

McMillan came in after the fall of the third or fourth wicket in 107 ODI innings. He amassed 2808 runs at an average of 30.85 and strike-rate of 78.17 with 20 fifty-plus scores. The explosive right-hander converted two of those into three-figure knocks.

In what can be construed as one of the more memorable triumphs in New Zealand's cricket history, he top-scored for his team in their famous 3-0 series victory at home against Australia in 2007. McMillan's 96-ball 117, laced with 13 fours and five sixes, enabled the Black Caps to chase a gargantuan target of 347 in the thrilling encounter at Seddon Park.

#1 Chris Cairns

Chris Cairns produced a game-changing century in the 2000 ICC KnockOut final

Perhaps, Chris Cairns is the most underrated cricketer in the history of the sport. Despite possessing an impressive record across both Tests and ODIs, he mostly does not figure in discussions surrounding the top all-rounders in the game. At his prime, the Picton-born player was a genuine match-winner. Apart from delivering telling blows with the ball, he was also a hard-hitting batsman capable of seizing momentum from opposition teams.

Cairns played 215 ODIs in an extremely productive career spanning from 1991 and 2006. He batted at either number five or six in 139 innings and hammered 3675 runs at an average of 30.12. Scoring at an impressive strike-rate of 81.21, the belligerent right-hander registered all four of his ODI centuries in the lower middle-order. 17 of his 26 fifties were also notched from those two batting positions.

Extra Cover: 5 reasons why Chris Cairns is the most underrated cricketer of his time

In what remains New Zealand's solitary triumph at ICC events, Cairns was instrumental in sealing the 2000 KnockOut (later renamed as Champions Trophy). During the title clash against an in-form Indian team, he revived the Black Caps' fortunes from 82/3 and guided them past a stiff target of 265 at Nairobi. His unbeaten 102 off just 113 balls comprised eight boundaries and two mammoth sixes.