Half-centuries to All Blacks past and present, Kieran Read and Will Jordan, have seen Team Rugby overcome Team Cricket for a stunning six-wicket victory in the Twenty20 Black Clash at Mt Maunganui's Bay Oval.
Chasing 204 runs for victory, scores of 84 to Read and 63 for Jordan saw Team Rugby get home with five balls to spare, and level the scores between the two sides at 2-2 after four matches played.
Read and Jordan's efforts, combined with a rapid 28 from eight balls to former Blackcaps captain Brendon McCullum - playing for Team Rugby - were enough to reel in the target in style, giving a crowd of more than 10,000 fans their money's worth at Bay Oval.
Opening the batting, it was Olympic shot putter Tom Walsh that got Team Cricket off to the perfect start, slamming a quickfire 34 runs that included a six pulled over midwicket off the bowling of Jordie Barrett.
Tokyo bronze medallist Walsh was playing as Team Cricket's wildcard, but fell to the wildcard selection of Team Rugby, former Northern Districts all-rounder Anton Devcich.
After Devcich removed Walsh and captain Stephen Fleming (16), it was the partnership of BJ Watling and Grant Elliott that lifted Team Cricket over 150 runs.
Only having retired in June 2021, Watling showed he hasn't lost any of his ability as a cricketer, and reached a half-century from 35 balls in a knock that contained five fours and one six.
At 181/5 after 19 overs, ex-Blackcaps all-rounder Jacob Oram (23 not out) added the final touch on the innings, taking All Blacks fullback Jordie Barrett apart with three sixes at the death - lifting Team Cricket to 203/5 from their 20 overs.
But in chase of a required run rate of more than 10 an over, Read and Jordan got Team Rugby off to the ideal start, adding exactly 100 runs for the first wicket.
Jordan in particular struggled early on, but unleashed against the spin of Nathan McCullum, and brought up a 27-ball half-century with four fours and three sixes.
Once Jordan fell, caught by wicketkeeper Adam Parore off the bowling of Elliott, the responsibility was left to Read.
After a slow start of his own, the former All Blacks skipper also passed 50, taking 40 balls, before he and Brendon McCullum hammered 40 runs off one double-play over, bowled by Shane Bond.
And with the target under a run a ball, Team Rugby were only ever going to cruise to victory in the final overs.
However, with scores level, Read fell trying to hit the winning runs, as a top edged pull shot was caught by Fleming, out at 203/4.
But with one run needed from six balls, it was Barrett that sealed the win, stealing a single into the leg-side to complete a brilliant victory for Team Rugby.
Team Cricket: 203/5 (Watling 58 not out, Elliott 44, Walsh 34; Devcich 2/25)
Team Rugby: 204/4 (Read 84, Jordan 63; Elliott 2/32)
