The Black Caps have a fatal attraction to Super Overs. They figured in the first ever T20 Super Over, an unofficial tiebreaker used against the West Indies at Eden Park in 2008.
They have figured in five other T20 Super Overs, and have won only once.
That one victory was against Australia at Christchurch in 2010. Bowler Tim Southee, Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum prevailed in a low scoring affair over an Aussie combo which included David Warner.
A dejected NZ captain Kane Williamson. Photo / Photosport
But the Kiwis lost 2012 World Cup games to hosts Sri Lanka and the West Indies, with Southee the bowler on both occasions. Guptill, McCullum and Ross Taylor wielded the willow.
They also lost to England at Eden Park in November, and now to India in a remarkable thriller at Hamilton where Rohit Sharma broke Kiwi hearts. Southee bowled in both of those.
No wonder captain Kane Williamson – at his superlative best in Hamilton – declared that "Super Overs certainly haven't been our friend."
As Williamson said, probably better to win games in normal time.
Black Caps' Super Over record:
Twenty20 Internationals
LOSS - 26 December 2008 (Eden Park, Auckland): West Indies 25/1 v New Zealand 15 all out
WIN - 28 February 2010 (AMI Stadium, Christchurch): New Zealand 9/0 v Australia 6/1
