Top 5 ODI finishers from New Zealand

#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.