A cricket stadium effectively stretching from Cape Reinga to Bluff erupted in ecstasy as the Black Caps beat South Africa with just a ball to spare in last night's Cricket World Cup semi-final in Auckland.
Unlike New Zealand's Rugby World Cup final win relayed to packed bars and fan zones around the country from same Eden Park ground on a euphoric Saturday night almost four years ago, last night's drama was a triumph for the stay-at-homes on what may go down as New Zealand's greatest Tuesday night in sporting history.
By comparison, many bars were empty or even closed by the time South Africa-born New Zealand all-rounder and Kiwi top-scorer Grant Elliott faced up to South African bowler Dale Steyn with the Kiwis needing five runs off the last two balls, and smacked it for six.
Among bars where the game was watched, however, was the Duke of Gloucester in Taradale, where one fan stuck on the see-saw of the night's New Zealand and South Africa fortunes said earlier: "It's a bloody good excuse for staying at the pub for the night."
