222 v ENG, Christchurch, 16 Mar
It was a dropped catch that nearly won New Zealand a match. Nathan Astle grassed Graham Thorpe, who went to make 200, in the slips in England's second innings and was so cross with himself that he took his out anger on the English bowlers in an assault that was savage, staggering, and nearly superhuman. While there was a touch of desperate audacity about Astle's batting, only one of his 11 sixes could count as a slog. When a hobbling Chris Cairns joined him as last man with New Zealand still 217 adrift. Twenty-three came off a Matthew Hoggard over; Andy Caddick was hit for three sixes in three balls; and the first 12 overs with the second new ball cost England 130. Astle's last 74 runs came off 32 balls, and before he was finally out for 222, his 200 had come in 153 balls, breaking the world record set by Adam Gilchrist a mere 20 days earlier by a full 59 balls. Then he walked off, shaking his head, still cursing himself for the drop.

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