KEY POINTS:
Cavalier cricketer Craig McMillan even surprised himself at the pace of his record-breaking century at Seddon Park last night.
For a split-second amid the bedlam generated by his second successive six off star struck Australian debutant Adam Voges, McMillan couldn't seem to understand what all the fuss was
about.
After all, clearing the ropes is nothing new for the born-again Black Cap though one particular obstacle -- the coveted three figures -- has proven far harder to negotiate during his hit and miss tenure as an international cricketer.
It eventually dawned on him -- when the electronic scoreboard caught up with his rapid fire assault -- that not only had he again clawed New Zealand back from the brink of defeat with an inspirational innings, his disdainful treatment of the 67th ball he faced also generated a personal milestone.
His fifth six clocked up his third test century, the fastest in New Zealand one-day history, and his first since the fading memory of 105 in a dusty Rawalpindi during the tour of Pakistan in 2001-02.
Teammates Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum, who was in the middle when the penny finally dropped, were sceptical of McMillan's apparent ignorance in the afterglow of New Zealand's one-wicket victory, but the nuggety allrounder insists he was none the wiser.
"The scoreboard was a little bit slow. I thought I was on 97, I wouldn't have played that shot if I'd been that close because it's been a while.
"I think I may have been a little more conservative," he said, in contradiction to an aggressive nature that has been a hallmark -- and occasionally a black mark -- during a 187-game career.
McMillan continued on to a career-high 117, adding a 13th and final boundary before indulging in one swipe too many at Shane Watson's expense.
The Cantabrian departed having played his part in a match-turning partnership off 165 off 145 for the sixth wicket with McCullum -- the second time in three days the 30-year-old has surprised critics with his astute batsmanship.
As if Sunday's 52 off 30 balls to push New Zealand to the cusp of their 337 victory target in Auckland wasn't justification enough for his recall after a 12-month exile, he took even greater delight in lashing Australia's attack to the hilt as they failed to defend 346 for five.
In the immediate aftermath of New Zealand's Chappell-Hadlee Trophy clean sweep McMillan was visibly shaking with a mixture of disbelief and relief though at the post-match conference he could rationally explain what the last two innings have meant to him.
"Everyone's got a point to prove and me especially I suppose coming into the World Cup because I was probably a marginal selection in some people's thinking.
"I'm pretty happy with my last two knocks. I've got 180 games behind me so I've got some experience but I suppose one of the important things is the different roles I've played in the last couple of games.
"In Auckland I went out and had to pretty much hit straight away, (last night) at 40 for four it was about building a partnership.
"Pete (Fulton) and I did that and it's amazing how the belief started to grow and from that we obviously chased down an amazing total."
Fulton and McMillan added 75 for the fifth wicket in less than eight overs, a catalyst for New Zealand's staggering 350 for nine.
"It's been unbelievable. I didn't think it would get any better after that chase in Auckland and now this, it's been great."
Dumped after the 2005 Chappell-Hadlee series and dismayed not to have his New Zealand Cricket contract renewed last year, McMillan had to force his way back in to the frame on the strength of domestic form with Canterbury -- a strategy he carried out with the assistance of recently retired brother-in-law Nathan Astle's injury during last month's Sri Lankan series.
He was retained for the Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series on trust, scored 89 against the Aussies at the SCG but the doubters have only been truly silenced since the weekend.
Acutely aware of the constant debate over his worth to the side, McMillan said it was just nice to repay the people whose opinions count.
"I've had a lot of support from guys within the side so it's nice to repay them -- the captain and the coach especially. It's just fantastic to play an innings of substance that got us over the line."
- NZPA