Cricket: Cup overflows for fizzing Boult

Trent Boult, right, celebrates with Corey Anderson during the Black Caps' win over Australia. Photo / Ross Setford

Rotorua-born Trent Boult has come a long way as a cricketer since he was running in to bowl against South Africa at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval last October.

At that stage he was rated behind Mitch McClenaghan in the Black Caps' one-day team. Not any more.

Boult is one of the best-performed pace bowlers at the Cricket World Cup and last month landed a massive $800,000 contract in the Indian Premier League.

But he is not getting ahead of himself. It is not in the makeup of the polite 25-year-old, who grew up playing cricket in Tauranga with his great mate and fellow Black Cap Kane Williamson. Their paths first crossed at intermediate school level.

"It has definitely been a pretty full-on summer but I am loving being involved in the white ball format," Boult said.

"Obviously this World Cup is a massive goal of mine and to be here and to be playing at home, going through what we are going through, it is pretty special that's for sure.

"We have enjoyed some good success with the wins we have had and to be touring round New Zealand and getting the following we are getting has been something pretty special.

"It is definitely an exciting time for New Zealand cricket."

The game of the summer so far has to be that unforgettable one-wicket win by the Black Caps over Australia at Eden Park on February 28.

Boult took five wickets to rip Australia apart before a batting collapse saw him walk out as the last batsman to join Williamson with six runs needed to win.

Crucially, Boult defended two deliveries from destroyer Mitchell Starc to set up the unforgettable ending as Williamson dispatched the next ball into the crowd to win the match.

"I was pretty fired up. It was a nerve-wracking situation to be put in but is something I will look back on and be pretty proud of," Boult said. "Kane was good. Everyone knows how level-headed he is and he slowed me down pretty well and made sure I got through those couple of balls to set him up for what he did."

Boult says the team are not thinking about the quarter-finals. First they must get past Bangladesh in Hamilton today.