5 worst defeats for New Zealand in ODIs

They have been the eternal underdogs in world cricket for much of their existence as a cricketing nation but that hasn’t stopped them from always punching above their weight. They made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup in only their 2nd attempt back in 1979 and over the years, have become one of the better sides in the game.

They were favourites in 1992 and then again in 2015, but fell short and over the course of the last few decades, the Kiwis have been pretty hard to beat at the biggest stage in ODI cricket. However, like the best cricketing nations in the world, New Zealand have also experienced some real lows in ODI cricket and here is a look at 5 of their most lopsided defeats ever.

---

#5 203 run loss to the West Indies at Hamilton, 2014

A year prior to the 2014 World Cup at home, New Zealand hosted the West Indies in a 5 match series and were leading 2-1 when the teams headed to Hamilton for the 5th ODI. New Zealand needed to win the game to win the series but their decision to bowl first backfired badly as the visitors put them to the sword on a batting paradise.

Kieran Powell started the carnage with a 44 ball 73 at the top of the order and then an unbeaten 123 (108 balls) from Kirk Edwards, along with a brutal 106 (81 balls) from Dwayne Bravo helped West Indies post a mammoth 363.

Now, it is quite unfair to expect a team to chase down 364 runs but at the same time, the nature of the pitch and the presence of so many big hitters in the Kiwi side meant that they had the wherewithal to have a fair crack at it.

However, New Zealand collapsed in a heap in embarrassing fashion. Jason Holder and Dwayne Bravo removed the top 3 of Martin Guptill, Jesse Ryder and Kane Williamson, while Nikita Miller rocked the middle-order with a superb spell.

From 45 for 2, New Zealand collapsed to 160 all out in 30th over and slumped to one of their biggest losses in ODI history.

#4 96 run loss to Australia in World Cup Super Six game at Port Elizabeth, 2003

Shane Bond of New Zealand celebrates taking the wicket of Ian Harvey of Australia to finish with figures of 6 for 23

Back in those days, Australia were the best ODI side in the world and when they came up against New Zealand in the Super Six stages of the World Cup at Port Elizabeth, they started off as favourites. However, once the Kiwis put the opposition in to bat, their star fast bowler Shane Bond blasted away the Australian top order with scorching pace bowling. He took 6 for 23 in 10 overs and reduced Australia to 84 for 7, but Michael Bevan along with Andy Bichel staged a recovery and eventually helped them post 208 runs in 50 overs.

It was a golden opportunity to put one across their regional rivals but their batsmen were simply not up to the task against the combined might of Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee. They slumped to 33 for 3 in the 7th over and after a slight recovery that saw them get to 66 for 3, the collapse began in earnest. Batsmen came and went, as New Zealand slumped to 112 all out in 30.1 overs to complete an embarrassing defeat.

#3 189 run loss to Sri Lanka at Auckland, 2007

Lasith Malinga

The home ODI series against Sri Lanka back in 2007 saw New Zealand record one of their heaviest defeats in ODI history and the nature of the defeat makes it one of the most embarrassing ones in the country’s history. Sri Lanka chose to bat first and with contributions from Sanath Jayasuriya (70) and Kumar Sangakkara (79), they made 262 in 50 overs. New Zealand were leading the series 2-1 ahead of this ODI and the target of 263 was not safe by any stretch of the imagination.

However, what unfolded in New Zealand’s innings was a bit of a horror show as Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga tore through the home side’s top order. The fast bowlers, along with Farveez Maharoof, reduced New Zealand to 39 for 6 in the 14th over and from then on, it was a matter of time. Eventually, they were all out for 73 in the 27th over to complete a rout in what was one of the most shocking batting performances in modern ODI cricket.

#2 210 run loss to England at Edgbaston, 2015

Jos Buttler

After their superb show in the 2015 World Cup, New Zealand were the favourites when they travelled to England and took on the hosts in the 1st ODI of the series at Edgbaston. Considering England’s horror show at the World Cup, it was widely expected that the Kiwis would have a prosperous time. However, England showed that things had changed with a display of brutal power-hitting that has now become their calling card in ODI cricket. Joe Root scored 104 (78 balls) and Jos Buttler plundered a brutal 129 off 77 balls to take England to an incredible total of 408 in 50 overs.

Conceding that sort of a total is always embarrassing but that was not the end of New Zealand’s predicament. While many must have expected them to go hammer and tongs at the target, as they normally used to do in those days, it did not materialize. They did decently to get to 160 for 3 in the 23rd over but Grant Elliott was dismissed at the same score and from then on, the Kiwis collapsed in a heap. Adil Rashid’s leg-spin did most of the damage as they went from 185 for 4 to 198 all out in 31.1 overs to lose by a mammoth 210 runs.

#1 7-wicket loss to Australia in World Cup Final at Melbourne, 2015

Brendon McCullum is dismissed by Mitchell Starc

New Zealand had played brilliant cricket to reach the final of the World Cup back in 2015 and considering the fact that they had beaten their fellow finalists Australia, they started the game as the favourites. However, once they won the toss and batted first, things started going wrong for them. Talismanic captain Brendon McCullum was dismissed for a duck in the 1st over and although they recovered to 150 for 3 by the 35th over, all the good work was undone soon after.

Within the next 10 overs, they collapsed to 183 all out as James Faulkner’s variations completely bamboozled their middle and lower order. Due to the sheer magnitude of the game and the way they had played in the World Cup until then, it was a crushing disappointment for many. The collapse was nothing short of an embarrassment and the total was never going to be enough on a pitch that favoured batsmen. Australia were never in any trouble as they chased the target down in 33.1 overs for the loss of only 3 wickets.