Sunday 2nd Test - Basin Reserve Wellington - 17 March 2006
"Dobbers' Delight"
It was a bit of a murky Sunday and the grass bank at the "Basin", as us locals like to call it, was only about a third full. Plenty of room for me to find some space pretty much behind the sight screen at the Scoreboard End. I was only lightly equipped, newspaper, camera and "beige brigade" polo-shirt and fishing hat. My plan, to watch the West Indies bat for an hour before lunch and then for a bit after. Well, it had only cost NZ$10 to get in to the game (about £3.50 !!).
The WIndies had already been abysmal in the first innings (192 all out on a great batting deck) but nowhere near as abysmal as the hot dog I got as I entered the ground. Fidel had tidied up the NZ tail earlier in the morning and I was going to see how the WIndies top order fared. I cannot tell you how village they were. Even their better performers like Gayle and Chanderpaul looked short on class. As for Lara ..... I think the two accompanying photos (of his 3rd ball and 4th and final ball ... caught gulley) tell the story well enough.
Many have paid more to see Lara bat but few can have left a ground feeling more disappointed. Still, at least it was a proper dobber that got him.......
shuff
