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Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz |
Sidline Sid's definition of an optimist is anyone who buys tickets to the last two days of a Black Caps test match.
On Thursday, the old fella fired up the Sidmobile to journey over the hills to Hamilton, full of anticipation of a good performance from the New Zealand team against South Africa.
However, the Black Caps again ran up the white flag of surrender – this time in less than three days of cricket.
Waikato daily media coverage has been ratcheted up another level with the Waikato Times now going head-to-head with Granny Herald as a morning newspaper.
While there was a moderate queue to get into Seddon Park on the opening morning – out of nowhere appeared a reporter hell bent on writing a negative story about queuing to get into the game.
It took a little patience and time to get into the venue, with most of the problems appearing to be caused by people using plastic to pay for entry, instead of thinking ahead and drawing out cash before getting to the park.
However, quick thinking stadium staff quickly got hold of the some change which allowed patrons with cash quick entry.
Sideline Sid was dismayed to read a page four story in the Waikato daily about the chaos at the gates at Seddon Park on Thursday.
The one dissenting opinion came form a Tauranga visitor, who commented that the queues were small change to that experienced at overseas test venues, where airport like searches are the norm.
A day at a test seems to go on forever with the next twist and turn of the encounter just around the corner.
With the Black Caps batting first there was always going to be plenty of anguish.
We made a good start, however, five wickets without a run being scored told the tale of a good New Zealand top order start that was allowed to dissipate.
Despair turned to cautious optimism, when the Black Cap bowling attack started to gather real momentum and we had the South Africans six down with just 88 runs on the board.
However, we let them off the hook to let them get a further 165 runs from their tail.
The start of the New Zealand second innings saw a sense of disbelief around the ground with our top three batsmen out for just seven runs.
Enter Western Bay youngster Kane Williamson, who put together a defiant knock reaching 77 before being removed.
His performance shone like a beacon, witnessed by the next highest New Zealand score being just 21 runs from Daniel Vettori.
However, in spite of the dismal Black Caps result it was still entertaining and enjoyable time out in the Waikato sun (apart from a two hour rain break on day one).
A real part of attending test cricket is the coming and goings all day of the cricket fans and the chit chat about the state of game.
On the local cricket scene, the Williams Cup, which dates back nearly 80 years, will have a new name engraved on the Baywide Trophy after the 2012 final at the Bay Cricket Oval this Saturday.
Otumoetai Cadets who are chasing their 10th Williams Cup in the last two decades, will square of against Greerton, who last had the prestigious piece of Baywide silverware in their trophy cabinet 27 years ago.
Go the Black Caps
