Black Caps prove No1 credentials
The golden summer rolls on for the Black Caps.
The drubbing in Dunedin yesterday against a pitiful Pakistan side was the side’s 10th straight international win, equalling the team’s longest winning streak, and securing the five-match series with two games to spare.
Given the margin of victory – a whopping 183 runs – that streak will surely continue when the teams meet again on Tuesday.
That Kane Williamson won the toss and batted first proved crucial for Dunedin man Craig Dougherty, who pocketed $50,000 for plucking a Martin Guptill six out of the air with one hand.
The Black Caps batsmen wouldn’t have had any need to smash sixes had they been chasing Pakistan’s total of 74.
But with the game only five balls old, Dougherty became the first spectator of the summer to take a crowd catch while wearing the sponsor’s T-shirt, and netted a five-figure sum.
‘‘My [Albion-Kilda club cricket] teammates were giving me s... because I dropped an absolute sitter on the boundary with two hands the other week before Christmas,’’ Dougherty said after holding the catch.
‘‘It hasn’t really sunk in yet, I still can’t believe I caught it, but it’s awesome that I did catch it.’’
The recent dominance has led to Sunday Star-Times sports writer Mark Reason labelling this Black Caps team the finest New Zealand side ever.
‘‘It is talented, diligent, thoughtful and loyal – which aren’t bad qualities for any sporting side to build around.’’