00:00At Port of Spain on the 20th, 9th March 1996, Stephen Fleming played an innings that announced
00:06his arrival as a man for the big stage, batting at No. 4 against a formidable West Indian
00:12attack featuring the legendary Kurt Lee Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Ian Bishop.
00:18The elegant left-hander crafted a magnificent 106 net out, his median one-day international
00:24century.
00:25The Stephen Fleming innings was one of the patience, resolve and quite authority.
00:30In pursuit of a testing target of 238, he built the chase brick by brick, refusing to be hurried
00:36by the fiery pace and bounce that came his way.
00:40His bat offered both defiance and grace, seven crisp boundaries caressed through the field
00:45and a solitary six struck with composure, yet it was his temperament that truly stood out.
00:51Let's enjoy Fleming innings.
01:21The captain who has to field a mid-off because he's a bowler may get his angles going on,
01:28and he needs the help of the rookie keeper.
01:30And that doesn't matter where he field, because that is a lovely hit, in fact that has gone over
01:38the fence, and it's just a lovely strike.
01:40If you need to bring some brakes left on your screen, more balls, more brakes.
01:53The circle, and pushed out square leg.
01:57A lovely shot, and that will go all the way, even Roger Harper has given up the ghost.
02:03Oh, the checks in the post.
02:06Oh, the checks in the post.
02:09Oof.
02:15It's only the second run, third run now.
02:19And it's at the back of Stanton going on heavily last year.
02:24They score moving without moving any more rickets.
02:28In the position where they can go on from slung, however they could fold up.
02:32But somebody's going to play.
02:35A decent innings.
02:37That goal's trying to slug.
02:39And full toss, I think he's split the gap he has for a boundary.
02:45Very good shot by Fleming.
02:47In just 111 minutes, of 155 goals.
02:51And you can see the field's...
02:57Over the top, and full.
03:00So...
03:02I thought he'd hit it straight back to Kirtley.
03:04Just hit it pretty high.
03:06Get the elevation up quickly to get it over the top.
03:09And he timed it well.
03:15Look for two.
03:16And only a single.
03:27That was one of the major differences between the rest in this fielding and the soul.
03:32And he's got that through, so that's another four.
03:35And Ambrose, there's two overs on return of Costum, 23.
03:39And New Zealand have...
03:42Really...
03:43And that's four more.
03:44So the boundaries are coming now.
03:46Not only the singles, but the boundaries.
03:52And James Adams.
03:53And Fleming gets it in the air.
03:57And I think they may go for four.
03:59Yes, Lee Shadow's a bit susceptible up here, but...
04:02He did not move, Geoffrey.
04:03I don't think he saw it either.
04:04Oh, he didn't see that.
04:05He sort of skinned along.
04:07Lovely straight drive.
04:08Two men.
04:09I don't think it will pierce the two men.
04:10And lovely bit of fielding by Harper.
04:11Good running again.
04:12To the room race.
04:13And take New Zealand home.
04:14Oh, the bumpy ball.
04:15And that was more like a Rocky Horror Show.
04:18The Bounce To The Left and the Bounce To The Right.
04:22The Bounce To The Right.
04:23The Bounce To The Rock.
04:24And the Bounce To The Left and the Bounce To The Rock.
04:25And the Bounce To The Rock.
04:26Well, the bumpy ball, and that was more like the Rocky Horror Show, a bounce to the left
04:36and a bounce to the right.
04:37The room on the lake side in particular, Rocky can run, and still these needs to keep him
04:44on strike.
04:45And mid-arm, wide of the arm, and up the ball.
04:51Well, it felt as if it was going to land in mid-arm's lap, but it just kept going.
05:02Once again, balling around the wicket, giving him a free-scoring hit on the left side.
05:07And Bishop, a bit of a fumble.
05:09And...
05:10And that top edge will make him 96.
05:17Pushes Fleming on to 98 now, just a little nudge.
05:33And that is his highest score for New Zealand.
05:40It's been a long time.
05:41Good.
05:42Got him for attention somewhat.
05:48Walter now decides to go over the wicket.
06:08Stephen Fleming, 100.
06:13Stephen Fleming 100
06:17Celebrations from the few New Zealanders who are here
06:21New Zealand flight carry on to the ground
06:25Caval Canary Bois dedicated on the medal
06:27I'm not sure that it's a campfire but
06:29Sydney from New Zealand
06:35Difficult save for him to make
06:37and the batsman get to
06:41He's travelling
06:43He needs to take 3 rickets to win the game
06:45Outfield
06:49Well that ties it
06:51and that wins
06:53So
06:55Stephen Fleming has won the match for New Zealand
06:57with one ball remaining
06:59and how fitting that the 100 maker
07:01should be the one to hit the winning runs
07:03New Zealand leveled a series
07:05here in the table of the wireless
07:07the Nationals
07:09a
07:11tight
07:13and
07:15a
07:17short celebration
07:19tomorrow morning same time same place
07:21but they can enjoy it for a little while
07:23They've beaten the Western Beast
07:25and they've done it pretty well
07:27quite nerve wracking towards the end
07:29A few stumbles, a few hiccups
07:31As wickets fell around him, Stephen Fleming stood tall, shepherding the innings with maturity
07:40beyond his years.
07:42He guided New Zealand towards the finishing line, timing the chase to perfection and sealing
07:47victory with just a ball to spare.
07:50The key is tri-empted by four wickets and Fleming rightfully walked away with the Man
07:54of the Match award for his match-winning 100.
07:57It was a knock that symbolized the essence of Stephen Fleming, calm under pressure, technically
08:03assured and a leader in the making.
08:05For New Zealand Cricket, this was not just a victory in Port of Spain, but the beginning
08:10of a journey where Stephen Fleming would emerge as one of their finest best men and captains.
08:17Stephen Fleming's century in Port of Spain was more than just runs on the scorecard.
08:22It was a statement of a character against the intimidation of a towering fastballer and
08:27the weight of a tricky chase.
08:29He showed the poise of a craftsman and the determination of a leader.
08:33For New Zealand Cricket, it was the kind of innings that instilled belief, proof that their
08:39batting could stand tall against the fiercest of opposition.
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