Breakout Blackcaps star Kyle Jamieson has had plenty of moments to remember over the past 15 months, on his journey from uncapped domestic player to one of the world's premier bowlers.
And the Aucklander has capped that head-turning rise with a Player of the Match performance in the World Test Championship final victory in Southampton, finishing with a match haul of 7/6 through 46 overs, including 22 maidens and some game-changing scalps.
With a draw the most probable result heading into the final day, the 26-year-old seized the momentum for the Blackcaps, snaring Indian superstar Virat Kohli for the second time in the match within the opening half hour of play.
Just two overs later, he sent Cheteshwar Pujara packing and should have had another soon afterwards, but Tim Southee shelled a straightforward catch of Rishabh Pant at second slip.
"It's massive," says Jamieson, after striding barefoot to the podium to accept his award in classic Kiwi fashion. "To be standing up here now is pretty surreal."
A devastating opening spell from the towering quick turned the test on its head and gave New Zealand the impetus to make their charge towards history, rewarding the faith shown in him by captain Kane Williamson to open the attack in place of veteran Trent Boult.
"We knew we had a big first hour and then see how things panned out," says Jamieson.
"If we had the ball in the right areas for long enough, we were hopeful that things could pan out our way, but obviously it's a very good India side, so we knew we had a tough task.
"It was just nice to have the ball first up and just to play a part in trying to get this game moving, so it's always nice to have the ball in the hand and to grab a few wickets."
The five-wicket haul is Jamieson's fifth in just eight test appearances since his February 2020 debut, as the 2.03m paceman continues to stamp his mark on international cricket, but Jamieson immediately deflects any credit his way to his teammates.
"I've rode the coattails of the other guys a little bit - the work that Tim [Southee], Trent [Boult], Wags [Neil Wagner] and those guys do, I just ride the back of that.
"Whilst I've got some of the bags in the last little while, it's certainly up to them."
Jamieson couldn't help grinning, when asked about the upper hand he's had over Kohli, his teammate with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.
"Always nice to have him in there a couple of times," says Jamieson, as Kohli cracks a smile nearby.
"He's obviously a world class player and just to spend six weeks in the changing room, and to come out here for the past six days and just go against him was awesome."
