Kiwi victory

History was made last night at Eden Park where, with one ball to bowl, New Zealand snatched victory from South Africa with a magnificent six hit by South African born Grant Elliott. He has since become the Kiwi national hero of course, sending NZ into first ever world Cup Final in Melbourne next Sunday against either India or Australia.

This is an amazing turnaround for this small country, but comes with a warning by sports columnist Mark Reason. He says that if NZ doesn't plumb the depths of Maori and Pasifika talent they will lose the small group of talent which exists now, but which is concentrated in the elite of wealthy privileged Wasps who play cricket in this country. He is right in my humble pakeha opinion.

The final winning six by Elliott

Memphis Belle in quiet shock

New Zealand goes crazy

With good Reason....

New Zealand today is recovering, that is if anyone went to bed last night in Auckland.

I watched the end of the game at the Cambridge Hotel which was a good classic venue. The small audience around eleven-thirty went ballistic on the last six hit by Elliott. An amazing cricket match was over. Now for the final.

I forgot to give a report of Gemma Bovery..not quite as exciting as the cricket, but indeed, an excellent and amusing film. It was a very interesting take on the original novel, with a bit of a tragic ending and the main chracter leaving the audience wondering what his literary obsession would lead to next. Really, it was quite a perfect French movie amd one I would recommend to any francophile. Five stars.

Yesterday was typical of my rich and full life in Wellington. For as well as the movie and the the cricket, I was witness to the Kiwi toughness of my friend Ron at BP who survived a drama from MK in Sydney who reneged at the last moment in his decision to come for the Candlelight Memorial. 

Ron immediately regrouped, changed the timing of the event, and was able to avoid failure by some subtle psychology and sheer pig-headedness. He was not going to lose this valuable Judge whom he was so happy to have secured in spite of all the drama. Full credit to him and I have learned I need to be more agressive in my stance sometimes. 

Michael Kirby is now officially coming to speak at our Candlelight Memorial on May 17. I can rest in peace.