England cricketers make Daniel’s day
ENGLISH toporder batsman Jonny Bairstow helped create a special moment for a young cricket fan when the English squad flew in to Dunedin Airport yesterday afternoon.
Daniel Brockway is a year 4 pupil at Maori Hill School, and was ‘‘excited’’ when Bairstow took a moment to sign his little bat.
‘‘I guess it’s pretty special for him to meet some of his heroes,’’ Daniel’s mother, Dr Rachel Wensley, added.
Daniel is a member of the Kaikorai Junior Cricket Club, and will be watching part of the fourth oneday game, between the Black Caps and England at the University Oval on Wednesday.
And, having a New Zealandborn mother and an Englishborn father, Ben Brockway, Daniel supports both New Zealand and England.
He also acquired signatures from England allrounder Chris Woakes and coaching staff member Paul Collingwood.
The signatures were provided after the team had been welcomed to Dunedin by The King’s and Queen’s High Schools Maori performing arts group He Waka Kotuia and had walked through a guard of honour provided by about 10 members of the City of Dunedin Pipe Band.
Band acting lead drummer Brent Cooper said of the guard of honour: ‘‘It was good, the players were appreciative.’’
English players smiled, nodded and took photos with their phones as they walked through.
After the Black Caps arrived later, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson ‘‘came up and thanked us’’, Mr Cooper said.
The Maori performing arts group greeted both groups of visitors with stirring haka and waiata.
English squad members also applauded the greeting and some warmly thanked the group in person.
There were several autographsigning chances for fans of both teams after the English squad flew in at 2.40pm and the Black Caps arrived about 6.30pm, the latter flight delayed by about an hour.
AUCKLANDER Nick Voke will get a bird’seye view of Queenstown today — the penalty of playing so well.
Voke, who finished seventh-equal on 20underpar to be the leading New Zealander, shot a 66 yesterday at Millbrook, in his first New Zealand Open.
Voke (23) was thrilled to be the top New Zealander and totally enjoyed the entire week.
‘‘It feels pretty special. It really does. As a professional, this is the pinnacle of our game here. It is my first time down here and it was a pretty good week,’’ he said.
‘‘I was pretty nervous this morning and I shook hands with my caddy, saying if I had a top10 then I would have to jump out of a plane tomorrow. I’ve got to keep my end of the bargain.
‘‘I knew I was playing well. If my putter was firing, then I knew I could do well.’’
Voke, who turned professional only a couple of months ago, and has just returned from a golf scholarship in the United States, said he had never experienced a parachute jump before but was looking forward to it.
Tim Wilkinson and Mark Brown were the next New Zealanders, on 18under.
After the defending champion Michael Hendry missed the cut — as did Ryan Fox — on Friday, it looked a long shot there would be another New Zealand winner. And that is exactly how it played out.
Wellington amateur Daniel Hillier shot a 64 on Saturday to be the leading New Zealander, but he was still eight shots behind the leader. He hit a par round yesterday to finish as the leading amateur.