So much for my 'realistic prediction' that we would be struggling for survival. Instead, for the second time in 2009, a potentially match and series winning innings for New Zealand has been stymied by the weather. Guptill's blazing unbeaten innings in the Hadlee/Chappell decider brought us within 30 runs of victory before the rain arrived. This time we needed 118 from a minimum of 23 overs to win the series. Again, it was a newcomer leading the charge with debutant Watling flying to 60 off 62 balls. The idea of a match winning innings, much less a match winning century on debut, would be a dream start for any player. But for the rain, it just might have happened.
It would have been a great end to the cricket year, a fairy tale debut and a fairy tale ending for Iain O'Brien. But that's the way it goes. Which calls to mind the comment of a veteran sports writer, Dan Jenkins, after Tom Watson fell just short of winning the British Open this year at the age of 59: "You know, maybe we're just not good enough people to have a story this good happen to us."
Still, after Watling's fine debut and the teams improvement in this test there should be some good stories to look forward to this season.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment