Greatest moments in Otago sport - Number 23

The Otago Daily Times counts down the 150 Greatest Moments in Otago sport.

No 23: Brendon McCullum blasts 170 in one-day final (2008)

State Otago Volts cricketer Brendon McCullum waves to the crowd as he passes the highest New Zealand record of runs in a domestic cricket game. McCullum went on to get 170 runs and helping his side to victory against Auckland in the State Cricket final at Eden Park in Auckland. Photo by The New Zealand Herald.

In a sustained and brutal onslaught, McCullum created history, bludgeoning 170 from a mere 108 deliveries to help Otago overhaul Auckland's mammoth total of 310 for seven in the State Shield final at Eden Park Outer Oval.

The victory ended a 20-year drought in the competition for Otago but the seven-wicket win will always be remembered for McCullum's staggering innings.

He rewrote the record books with a blistering century that came off just 52 balls - the fastest limited-overs century scored in New Zealand.

His 170 - the highest score in the tournament's history - included 19 fours and seven sixes.

But this was far from an all-out assault, with McCullum swinging for the fence every delivery. He certainly did his fair share of that but was also able to change tempo once the fielding restrictions had been lifted.

It seemed a little surreal watching a becalmed McCullum nudge his side to victory after the earlier fireworks.

"You crave making contributions in big games and I'm pleased it all came together today," McCullum said at the time.

"Everybody goes through good patches and bad and I'm lucky to be on a roll at the moment.

"I was happy with the way I managed to change gears. I've been a bit guilty in the past of not being able to pull it back and not consolidate through the remainder of the innings.

"That was the most pleasing aspect - getting away to a quick start and then being able to knock it around and get us through to the total." With victory in sight, McCullum could not resist a final flourish and holed out.

Volts captain Craig Cumming was left to hit the winning runs.

Cumming played quite a nice hand himself, with an undefeated innings of 86, and seamers Bradley Scott and Warren McSkimming took a couple wickets apiece.

But the day belonged to McCullum.

Amazingly, he never doubted Otago could get up and win the match. In a brief chat with the Otago Daily Times during the lunch break, he suggested Auckland had left itself 30 or 40 runs shy of a competitive total.

So it proved.

McCullum has played many fantastic innings but none has been more important for the province.