Cricket: NZ's bull run full of epic memories

Grant Elliott's cup match-winning six and grace afterward will be long treasured by fans. Photo / Brett Phibbs

New Zealand cricket began a new chapter on March 30, 2015.

The day before, the national side competed in their first World Cup final in 11 attempts, losing to Australia in Melbourne.

The campaign created goodwill which could only be imagined on January 2, 2013, when they were dismissed for 45 at Cape Town in Brendon McCullum's first test as captain.

For 43 days in February and March, the New Zealanders were a self-contained bull market on cricket's stock exchange - only on the 44th did their shares dip.

The semifinal victory against South Africa was the culmination of a path in which they defeated Sri Lanka, Scotland, England (Tim Southee snared New Zealand ODI-best figures of seven for 33), Australia (Kane Williamson's six secured victory by one wicket), Afghanistan, Bangladesh and West Indies (Martin Guptill's 237 not out became New Zealand's highest ODI score).

The days of miracle and wonder continued at Eden Park. Grant Elliott, born in South Africa but a proud bona fide New Zealander, belted Dale Steyn, the world's premier pace bowler, into the stands to triumph with a ball to spare.

The wallop will live forever for New Zealand fans, as the team chased 298 in a rain-interrupted 43 overs.

Elliott even had the grace to stretch out a hand to an anguished Steyn lying prone in the aftermath. "Four-wicket win" was the ultimate euphemism for what was witnessed.

From Brendon McCullum's 59 off 26 balls to Vettori and Elliott collecting 12 off the last over, it made a case for the country's most poised ODI batting performance.

New Zealand Cricket can never claim to have had a dynasty like that of Australia from the late-1980s to early-2000s or West Indies from 1976-1995.

The World Cup result opens the door to see whether the systems put in place by coach Mike Hesson and captain McCullum unlock sustained success or are merely something to reflect on fondly when the World Cup returns in another generation.