Blackcaps batsman Ross Taylor still hopes to play in the series-deciding fifth ODI after his heroic match-winning knock against England in Dunedin.
Taylor overcame a thigh injury and cramp to plunder an unbeaten 181 as the Blackcaps secured an unlikely five-wicket win over the English on Wednesday.
During the match, Taylor aggravated the thigh injury which kept him out of the third ODI, but despite that, he battled through.
Speaking to reporters after the match, the 34-year-old was determined to be fit for the series-deciding match in Christchurch on Saturday.
"I hope so," Taylor said. "I felt it when I dived, a similar pain to what happened [at Mount Maunganui in game two]. Then I started cramping up in different spots which made it harder.
"It just kept on getting worse. I got a bit of tape [on the thigh] and it probably eased off a little, I didn't run many twos after that.
"We'll just wait and see over the next couple of days. I'll give myself the best chance to get out there and contribute."
Sending the five-match series into a decider seems impossible at the start of the Blackcaps innings after both Martin Guptill and Colin Munro were both bowled for ducks, which had New Zealand sitting at 2-2.
But then came in Taylor, who blasted 17 fours and six sixes as New Zealand chased down England's total of 335 with three balls to spare.
Taylor's 181 is the third-highest ODI score by a player batting in the second innings, and some are calling it one of the best batting displays by a New Zealander.
But Taylor downplayed the heroics.
"We won chasing, so being there at the end means it'd have to be up there.
"You can't win the game in the first 10 overs, you've just got to give yourself a chance. On New Zealand grounds, you can catch up at the end on small boundaries.
"Once we started to get to 160-170, I thought if we can bat well here we'll give ourselves a chance. We were ahead of the game when Colin came out with his cameo, meaning we wouldn't have to take risks in overs 43-45."
Newshub.
