Hay Becomes First New Zealand Wicketkeeper to Finish an ODI on 99*

Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club | November 30, 2025

On 2 April 2025 at Seddon Park in Hamilton, BWCUCC junior and First Grade #606 Mitchell Hay finished unbeaten on 99. Becoming the first New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter to end an ODI innings on 99 not out. He is only the third wicketkeeper in ODI history to do so, after Andy Flower in 1999 and Swapnil Patil in 2014.

He is also just the second New Zealand batter of any kind to record 99* in the format, following Bruce Edgar in 1981.

Playing his sixth ODI, Hay recorded his first international half-century and surpassed his previous best score of 49 made in Pallekele in 2024. Batting at No.7, he reached 99 from 78 balls, hitting seven fours and seven sixes. He contributed a 77-run partnership with Mohammad Abbas and later added quick runs in short stands with Nathan Smith, Ben Sears and Jacob Duffy as New Zealand posted 292/8.

Hay began the final over on 77 and added 22 runs through the sequence 2, 0, 6, 6, 4, 4 to finish on 99*.

“It’s pretty tough at the start. The first 20–30 balls are hard work,” Hay said after the innings.

“Our communication was clearly good. Mo (Abbas) was specific about the targets. The score on the board is nice. Seddon Park is usually generous in terms of distance, and it’s nice to clear a few over the ropes.”

The innings stands as a statistical landmark for both Hay and New Zealand cricket

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