2nd ODI - Christchurch

After the excitement of the first ODI in Wellington, the NZ supporters expected the second match, at Jade Stadium in Christchurch, to be another close encounter. After winning the toss and batting, Australia weren’t looking good with Adam Gilchrist caught down the leg side off the 2nd ball of the game. The Kiwis must have thought they had Australia on toast. Though the weather was hot, the Kiwi toaster was broken and Australia went on the rampage.

After the excitement of the first ODI in Wellington, the NZ supporters expected the second match, at Jade Stadium in Christchurch, to be another close encounter. After winning the toss and batting, Australia weren’t looking good with Adam Gilchrist caught down the leg side off the 2nd ball of the game. The Kiwis must have thought they had Australia on toast. Though the weather was hot, the Kiwi toaster was broken and Australia went on the rampage.

Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting played as they did the other night, though the pitch was a little quicker and the 99-run partnership in 17-overs for the 2nd wicket formed a basis for a huge total, and the local, reasonably paltry, turnout weren’t happy. But they had little to be happy for and opted for the throwing of sauced chips, biscuits, bottle tops, and verbal abuse in Brian’s and my direction, but this is one-day cricket, and we are in NZ, so there was no surprise from our camp (no surprise because I imagine the less than admirable side of Australian cricket spectators would do it to our Kiwi friends from the delights of Bay 13 in Melbourne, or The Hill in Sydney!). Maybe Brian thought it unusual being his first overseas tour, but if there was solace, this was only a Christchurch barrage of bitterness. Wait until we find ourselves in Auckland’s East Terrace on Saturday. Now that’s ugly!

Chips and sauce aside, Marto joined Haydos after Punter was run out, not exactly marginally, and whacked on 133 runs in 24 overs, during which Haydos reached 3-figures. And about time too! It’s been sometime since Matty scored a hundred in either form of the game so he was excited when he brought it up, as were Brian and I. Brian and I were making our Jade Stadium debut, now we both have a hundred up the sleeve as well. Always a good memory!

Marto went for 58, run out also, Haydos fell for 114, and then Symonds followed for 13, and Clarke for 23. The Kiwis had the chance to restrict Australia to a mediocre high 200 score but Michael Hussey, in for Simon Katich, ended 32 off 20-balls, and looked every bit the established cricketer he was selected to be, and with Brad Hogg took the total to 314 after 50-overs, the final ball, one that should never have been, hit over the rope for 6 after the 2nd last ball was called wide, though bouncing clearly over leg stump after Hogg moved to the offside. It might have been important in a closer match, but with NZ 6-73 in their run chase, yes, it might have been important!(Below: The sun sets, finally, behind the Paul Kelly Motor Company Stand!)

If Australia were in poor shape after the 1st over, so too were NZ with Stephen Fleming edging to Adam Gilchrist his first of 5-catches for the match. NZ 1-4 after one. The Kiwis added a casual 8 for the 2nd wicket before Astle fell in the 6th, and Sinclair in the 9th, followed by Marshall in the 12th, McMillan and Cairns in the 16th, Hayden taking a beautiful catch to send Cairns for a shower. The Kiwi’s game was well and truly over and still light at 7.26pm. I recall the first ODI in 2000 at Auckland when the D/N game was over at this time, and I took the bus home in broad sunny daylight. It wasn’t quite so light this time, and the Blackcaps had a few players left that could hit the ball, but they more so just had to stick it out and get and close as they could.

McCullum and Vettori played well adding 62 for the 7th wicket, and when McCullum was out, local hero Jeff Wilson partnered Vettori for another 62runs partnership, and in the throes helped Vettori bring up a well-deserved and well-timed 50. He looked the goods and far removed from the player that was castled by Brett Lee for 0 in Wellington. But no matter how high Vettori’s score was, and though dismissed for a gallant 83, his highest ODI score, it was not enough to get the Kiwi’s close. Katich caught Vettori in the deep, leaving Tuffey and Mills again to be the unlikely hero and unlikely they were.

The game lasted another 2-balls before a mix up (or expected running by the 10 and 11) between Mills and Tuffey, resulted in Mills being run out and Australia wining the game by a 108 runs at 9pm. What surprised me was that none of the crowd left, even at 6-73 with all batsmen in the shed. I guess they wanted their money’s worth, considering half the crowd turned up well after the start, it would have been a huge waste had they left after only a few hours, gee, much like the time it takes to play 20/20.

Brian and I waited for the crowd to dissipate, and the nearby throng so intent on hurling shit at us all day to approach and say ‘well done, sorry for throwing shit at you it’s not personal etc….’ before shaking the hand and, umm, well, how do I put it, umm, leaving! Yes, leaving! There were a group of very nice ladies next to us that took offence to the crowd behaviour, as they too were on the end of a few chips, so bought us a bucket of chips to save eating off the floor what was hurled at us. OK, I ate the ones off the floor to make a point to those behind that it mattered not what they tossed as my tummy appreciated the gestures! (Below: The Kiwi crowd enjoys the early part of the day. the night was not so enjoyable for them.)

And once the crowd had gone, and Brian and I were left alone to pack the bags with a few interested folk coming by to say hello and ask how we put up with the abuse, Gilly came racing across the field to give me the match ball! Now that was a surprise. Gilly took his 300th catch with this ball and subsequently gave it to me. Another nice piece of memorabilia into the bag! Brian and I wandered home, and into the pub next door for a few cleansing ales, and then into the dorm where Louise, Jodie, and Kirstie were making a bit of noise in celebration of Louise’s impending departure from NZ. Gotta love Qantas earplugs!

Luke Gillian 22/02/2005 23:19:17