Cricket: Family hedge bets on World Cup showdown

DIVIDED LOYALTIES: Jean-Pierre Joubert, Cathy Noland, Stewart Hewitt, Arlene Barbeau and Lewis Hewitt will wager on who will win the semifinal match between South Africa and New Zealand in the 2015 Cricket World Cup today. PHOTO/RUTH KEBER

One South African family have already put their bets on who will win today's Cricket World Cup semifinal between New Zealand and South Africa.

However, part of the family will be cheering for their homeland, part for New Zealand and the rest for whoever is losing.

South African expatriate Arlene Barbeau, who moved to New Zealand 10 years ago, said she would be going for the team that was losing.

However, her father and brother, Lewis and Stewart Hewitt, would always support South Africa, their homeland, while her daughter and son-in-law would be cheering for the Black Caps.

The Parklands Produce owner said she would move a TV set into the the store so she could watch the game and keep tabs on the score.

Mrs Barbeau said the family had always loved cricket, with her son playing the game from school age.

"My husband has been following it [the World Cup] quite closely, I don't get to watch all the games because I am working but I feel sorry for whoever is losing ... we are definitely sitting on the fence with that one," she said.

Mrs Barbeau's son-in-law, Jean-Pierre Joubert, said whichever side won he would be in for some ribbing from either his New Zealand or South African friends

Mr Joubert, who moved to New Zealand eight years ago, said he always supported the Black Caps because his two children Joshua, 8, and Chelsey, 6, were born here.

He said there had always been friendly rivalry in the family when the two nations played and betting on who would win today's game had already begun.