2010 Game 7: Rotorua T20

The second Twenty-20 used the balls from the first game, so Rotorua threw theirs to the spinners . Whittock (19) and Kahn (8)got the side away to 0-35 in the first six overs, then three wickets tumbled. Big-hitting Steve Booth and  newly-promoted “Cletus” Palin (20) revived the innnigs with a fifty-run  stand , and Geoff Boyes (15*) brought the innings home.

119 seemed a competitve score, but Andy Gibbs again cut loose at the top of the order with a rapid-fire 46. His opening stand of 75 with Fendall in 12.3 overs set the Rotoruans well on the way to another victory. Rogerson struck to remove both  openers, and Croft bowled with good control, but Bhimjani and Whittaker paced themselves well to hit the winning runs with five balls to spare.

The two wins have restored New Zealand’s sporting pride, and the Reds tourists have been freed on bail. The Keys government has recommended Andy Gibbs for a knighthood and  the rest of the team for MBEs, and is currently checking the validity of the Reds’ passports in the hope of detaining them in NZ as permanent whipping boys.