Cricket: Rotorua-born Trent thrills fans

Trent Boult and Kane Williamson celebrate after winning the ICC Cricket World Cup match against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday.

There were perhaps no prouder fans inside Eden Park on Saturday than Ian and Wendy Boult - as the Blackcaps defeated Australia in a thrilling Cricket World Cup match.

Rotorua-born cricketer Trent Boult had Eden Park, and most of New Zealand, in hysterics on Saturday as he ripped through the Aussie batting order.

His parents Ian and Wendy were at the ground watching their son help the Blackcaps to a famous victory.

Ian said it was surreal watching his son take five wickets for one run, in his second spell, a performance which earned him the man of the match award.

"It was a fantastic part of the match when [Daniel] Vettori came on and bowled really well then Trent came into the attack ... it was surreal seeing him take five wickets for one run," he said.

"We met up with him last night at the hotel. He was really rapt, and happy for the whole team,"

Trent was also called upon at the death to face two balls from Australian quick bowler Mitchell Starc, when New Zealand were nine wickets down with six runs needed to win.

"We were all pretty nervous at that stage, as was everybody in the crowd. We were nine down with six runs to get," Ian said.

Boult blocked the first ball he faced then left the next ball to see out the over. Kane Williamson hit a six off the first ball of the following over to claim a famous win for New Zealand.

Ian said he was confident Trent could protect his wicket, and he was actually a handy batsman.

"Oh yeah, he can hold the willow."

Although Trent finished with five wickets for 27 runs in his 10 overs - his best ODI bowling record - Ian said it was hard to say whether that was his best performance for the Blackcaps.

"He has had some really good performances. We were there when he took five wickets for New Zealand in a test match, so it is hard to pick one performance over the other."

Ian said each time Trent walked back to his fielding mark during his second spell on Saturday, the crowd would rise and applaud him which was special to see.

During a press conference after the match, Trent said it was hard to say what was behind his five-wicket haul.

"I'm not too sure to be honest. I have just tried to do what I have been doing over the last five or six months kind of thing - pitch the ball up and try and swing it - and I got a bit of luck there with a couple of drag-ons.

"But it was definitely all go and something that I'm obviously going to remember for a while."

Trent's older brother Jono Boult is also a top cricketer and plays for Northern Districts.
Trent spent his early years living in Rotorua, until he was about 5 or 6, before his family moved to Whakatane and then Tauranga.

The family is still based in Tauranga.