Day 31 - Sunday 4th February 2024

Ladies and gentlemen of the blogiverse, the Week 4 video is live, so if you'd like to see what I've been up to this last week, here is the place to look (click the blue 'here' and it'll open).

I don't think it's any secret that the whole of my big trip was organised around the dates of the cricket at Mount Maunganui. Those dates have arrived, so if you're not a cricket fan then you may not find this blog particularly interesting for the next few days.

The day started unusually; the 4th February is my eldest nephew Zachary's birthday. First job of the day was to video call him to wish him a happy birthday; it is his birthday here on the morning of 4th February even if the UK needed to catch up a lot of hours ....... so I called wishing him happy birthday the evening before his birthday in the UK.

Away from the hotel and onto the 9:38 bus, I arrived at the Bay Oval just before 10:00; I like to arrive early to watch the warm ups and everything that's happening in the lead up to the test match. South Africa won the toss, and decided to ask New Zealand to bat first. South Africa had 6 debutants playing due to their usual team being involved in their domestic T20 tournament.

It was a clear day with not a cloud in the sky, in stark contrast to yesterday. I found a spot sitting on the grass bank at the City end of the ground at about mid-off for those who understand their cricketing nomenclature (and for those who don't, pretty much behind the bowler but a bit to the left). 

Seven balls into the game, and debutant bowler Tshepo Moreki took a wicket with his first ball in test cricket as he trapped Devon Conway (New Zealand's own South African) LBW (Leg Before wicket for those non cricket fans). New Zealand found themselves at 2 for 1, and Kane Williamson came to the wicket.

Drinks were taken a hour in at 12:02 with the score on 33 for 1. The big screen was showing us each ball, and some of the lateral movement at this stage was outrageous; hardly surprising given that the wicket had been undercover for pretty much two days. 

16.5 overs in, and the next wicket fell. This time the other opening bat, Tom Latham, managed a fine edge through to the wicket keeper to depart for 20. New Zealand were 39 for 2, and the next man in was Rachin Ravindra.

It looked like hard work out in the middle, and the scoring rate reflected this. Lunch was taken with the score on 65 for 2; Ravindra had scored 15 and Williamson was on 26.

The 50 run partnership between Williamson and Ravindra came up in the 35th over, and it was still slow going as drinks were taken  after 39 overs with the score on 93 for 2. The New Zealand hundred was bought up in the 44th over, and Williamson reached 50 in the 51st over. Tea was taken after the 52nd over with the score on 125 for 2; a slow scoring rate by any measure.

Ravindra reached his 50 in the 53rd over, and in the 56th over they reached their 100 run partnership. The landmarks continued to come; New Zealand 150 in over 59, the 150 partnership in over 71, and the New Zealand 200 in over 74. Since tea the scoring rate had been higher, and New Zealand were starting to get on top of a tiring South African attack, helped I suspect by the wicket calming down as the moisture was baked out of it. The same baking I was getting sat watching!

Kane Williamson is one of the best and most stylish batsmen in the world, and if I'd have had the perfect scenario for Day 1 of the test it would have been to see a Williamson ton. This happened in over 79, and Ravindra joined him on triple figures just one over later. The 200 run partnership was reached in over 81, and 250 was reached in over 85. Close of play came at 18:30 after 86 overs; we were 4 short of a full day, but it's been an absorbing and interesting day of cricket. For those who like this kind of thing (and I do so there!)

New Zealand First Innings

Batsman                How out       Bowler        Runs

D Conway            LBW             b Moreki         1

T Latham              Ct Fortuin     b Paterson     20

K Williamson        Not               Out              112

R Ravindra            Not               Out              118

Bowling:

Bowler        Overs    Maidens    Runs    Wickets

Olivier        19.0        3                62        0

Moreki        22.0        2                81        1

Paterson      22.0        3                59        1

de Swardt    14.0        4                24        0

Brand            9.0        0                31        0

Away from the ground, and as I reached the bus stop a Number 5 bus arrived, which was great news as the Sunday service has the busses running half hourly. Back to the hotel within a half hour of close of play, and dinner before returning to get the blog updated.

Again, apologies if cricket isn't your thing ..... the next few days may be a bit like this! The game is poised for New Zealand to make a huge score; the second day at Mount Maunganui is usually the best for batting. If New Zealand start well, it could become a very long and painful day for the South Africans, but they're the ones who have sent an second eleven over here. They looked a bit deflated as they returned to the hotel this evening; I'll look forward to seeing how they look tomorrow evening!.