Day 34 - Wednesday 7 February 2024

 Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news; strangely it's the same piece of news and is just a matter of perspective.

The good news is for you; (spoiler alert) the cricket has finished so this will be the last cricket-centric blog. The bad news for me is that I now have a day with nothing planned, so at some stage this evening I'll have to explore possibilities. There is an element of good news for me; I shan't have to sit on a grass bank for another day, so my numb bum will be most relieved.

It was an odd start to the day; I went to board the Number 5 bus as usual, and was told by the driver that I needed the 2 that followed. I explained I wanted Blake Park and the Bay Oval, but the driver said that he didn't go there. I got off and got on the 2, to be told that I needed the 5. I stayed on the 2 and was dropped as close to the cricket as possible, but had 20 minute walk to get there, which won't do me any harm.

This morning was overcast and forecast to stay that way until lunchtime. I took my usual spot at the cricket, purchased a coffee, and 'Slip slop slap and wrap' as they refer to sun protection here. I have factor 50 sun cream (which is unheard of for me; I usually go with factor 15) which I liberally applied shortly before play was due to commence.

At 10:45, 15 minutes before play was due to start, it was announced that New Zealand had declared their innings closed, so South Africa would be batting this  morning chasing a target of 529 to win. Considering the world record successful chase was 418, there were two chances, and Slim had already left town.

The South African innings was again opened by Messers Brand and Moore. In the very first over a big appeal, and the umpire gives the batter out. There is a player review called, and it's clear from the review that the ball has missed the bat but clipped the pad, so they are not out caught behind. Then we get a clarification that the batsman was not given out LBW, so we went through the LBW review process. For LBW it was umpires call, but as the umpire hadn't given the batter out LBW the decision was overturned to Not Out. I find this an interesting ruling in that all possible dismissals were looked at, and that despite the batsman being given out that umpires call went in the favour of the batsman for LBW. I have learned something today.

In the third over a wicket did fall as Brand was comprehensively bowled by Tim Southee, and the next over Moore departed as well, caught at point. South Africa had made a poor start to the run chase and found themselves 5 for 2.

It was a hot, humid and sticky day under the cloud cover with not even the faintest stirrings of a breeze to help; perfect bowling conditions, but a bit warm for my liking. Drinks were taken after an hour and 13 overs with the score on 26 for 2.

South Africa bring up their 50 in over 22, and the 50 partnership between Hamza and van Tonder follows in over 24. Lunch was taken with the score on 62 for 2 off of 28 overs. Thankfully the cloud cover had moved on, and the clear blue sky was accompanied by a refreshing breeze. I was baking in the sun (I had slipped slopped and slapped on the sun cream), but it was far better watching conditions.

At lunch I took the opportunity to go onto the outfield and have a look at the wicket. The outfield was far better than a lot of wickets I have played on, and it was very interesting to get a perspective from the middle.

Over 31 and the next South African wicket fell; van Tonder caught in the slips by Latham for 31, leaving South Africa on 68 for 3. The old saying is 'one wicket brings two', and this proved to be true again as the next wicket fell just two overs later as Hamza pulled a shot straight to Tim Southee at mid wicket. Hamza stayed at the crease for a while, unable to believe what he'd just done, but had to depart. South Africa were now struggling at 73 for 4.

Over 41 and South Africa reach the landmark of 100 runs; afternoon drinks were taken shortly thereafter with the score 101 for 4. In over 48 Petersen and Bedingham bought up their 50 run partnership stand. In over 51 Bedingham reached his individual 50, aided by some short bowling. It bought to mind what was said about one of our fast bowlers in days of yore ...... 'you hit that for 4 .... I'll bowl the next one shorter and faster. Oh, you hit that for 4 as well? The next ball will be even shorter and faster ......' This is what it felt like to me. The more they bowled short and fast, the further he hit the ball.

In over 53 South Africa reached 150, and tea was taken after over 56 with the score on 173 for 4. I thought that New Zealand desperately needed the break to re-evaluate their tactics as they were feeding short bowling to someone who seemed to like it. After tea, there was more of the same, but in over 57 the tactic paid dividends as Bedingham went for another 6 and was caught at deep square leg for a very entertaining 87 off 96 balls. Just goes to show what I know eh? I think the difference after tea was that the Kiwi's bowled Jamieson who had the extra height to generate the extra bounce needed to force the wicket.

Next man in was de Swardt who was on a pair (he scored 0 in the first innings, and had he scored zero in the second he'd have had a pair of ducks ..... a dismissal for no runs is referred to as a duck), and he very nearly collected it, edging just short of slip. 

Over 50, and the next wicket falls, this time Paterson for 16. The new man in was Fortuin with the score on 181 for 6. Over 66 and the next wicket went; it now felt like a bit of a procession. Fortuin pulled Glenn Phillips, and the ball ricocheted off of silly square leg's knee into the air, and wicket keeper Blundell completed the catch. Not a great way to go, but the score was now 199 for 7.

Olivier, who was the new man in, didn't last long as he was caught at slip off Mitchell Santner's bowling for 1. The new batter, Moreki, made his way to the centre as evening session drinks were taken. The final wickets always seem difficult to take, and this was no different. Moreki seemed to be hanging around for an age before he was given out LBW in over 76. He reviewed more in hope than explanation, but you wouldn't see many more plumb LBW decisions. South Africa were now on the brink at 223 for 9.

The last man in was Paterson, and he approached this as a nothing to lose scenario, swinging his bat to the frustration of the New Zealand players and crowd. He was dropped in over 79, but just a couple of balls later the end came as he holed out to Kane Williamson at Long On off Santner's bowling. South Africa were all out for 247, and lost the test match by 281 runs. Man of the match was Rachin Ravendra for his double century in the first innings.

After watching the presentations, it was back on the bus to the hotel and dinner before it was blog o'clock ..... which is where you find me now. I have really enjoyed the test match here, but it does leave me with a bit of a problem. As the match finished at the end of day 4, I have day 5 free with nothing planned. I'll have to see what's local and do-able for tomorrow.

That's it; the cricket is ended. The rest of the blog should be cricket free, which I'm sure will be a massive relief to some of you. I have discovered that the Super 15 rugby is starting shortly though, so I'm going to check the fixtures to see if I'll be in the right place for any of those games!

One faux pas to report today. I went to take some footage with my Sony camera and was presented with a message that the battery was exhausted. I must remember to charge my camera if I want to take photos or videos! Still, I had the Gopro with a charge, and discovered that I can zoom a bit, to that'll have to do for today!