Birthday Special: Top 3 performances by Scott Styris in International Cricket
Scott Styris continued the Kiwi tradition of being a hard-hitting allrounder in the 2000s. The former New Zealand cricketer started his career as a fast bowler, but a knee injury reduced him to gentle medium-pace bowling, which shifted his focus to batting. An aggressive batter lower down the order, Styris could win matches on his own. He finished his career with over 6500 across all formats for New Zealand along with over 150 international wickets to his name.
On his 47th birthday, we look at some of his best performances for New Zealand.
3. 6/25 against West Indies, 2002
West Indies hosted New Zealand in the fourth ODI of the five-match series at Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad. The hosts were looking to seal the series, as they headed into the fourth match with a 2-0 lead. New Zealand finished with 212 runs on the board in the rain-hit encounter thanks to some lusty blows from Scott Styris, who scored 63 from 72 deliveries. Styris wasn’t done there as he ran through the West Indies batting order to bag six wickets in seven overs. New Zealand won the match by nine runs, and Styris was named player of the match for one of the best all-around displays in international cricket.
2. 170 against South Africa, 2004
New Zealand put the visitors South Africa to bat first after winning the toss in the second Test at Eden Park, Auckland. South Africa were bundled out for 296 in their first innings after Chris Martin’s six-fer. The hosts were in all sorts of trouble in their reply as they lost the opening two wickets for just 12 runs, but a sensational ton by Scott Styris took New Zealand from a position of peril to strength as they finished with 595 in their reply, thanks to Styris’ 170. New Zealand won the game comprehensively by nine wickets in the end.
1. 101 against Australia, 2005
Over the years, neighbors Australia and New Zealand have produced some mouth-watering clashes and it was the case when Christchurch hosted the third ODI between the two sides in 2005. Australia, who had already sealed the series by opening two matches batted first in the game and posted a competitive total of 331 on the back of half-centuries by four Aussie batters. New Zealand wobbled in their chase and kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but it didn’t deter Styris, who held one end with a brilliant 96-ball 101. New Zealand won the thrilling encounter by two wickets after some incredible hitting by Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum in the death overs.
