Flag Day

England 307 all out
v New Zealand 192-6
close on Day Two

2nd Test, played at Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Saturday 31 March 2018

46 New Zealand Beer Ticks

Twitter @ball_sup
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Let's start with that big positive. A lovely ton for Bairstow. Part of me wishes they'd just decide where he's batting. And fit the others around him. I get it, they're worried about him being up the order & keeping. But, leaving him with the tail is not a great idea either. Anyway. He got it over the line.

And. Then. NZ seventeen for four. 36 for 5 - & that was Williamson gone. To go from there to 192 for just six at the close is a great effort from them. Broad looked at it - and he's done four for 38. The thing I'll say is, we looked to be drifting at times again. All in all though, that's got to be seen as a good day in the dirt. Personal performances (Bairstow & Broad). Still over a hundred behind. New ball due. For heaven's sake, there was even a bit of Buffoonery in the crowd.

One bloke, who looked older than me, was surrounded by about eight coppers, had his hands bound behind his back & was proper old skool frogged behind the stand. F’ing. Jeff’ing. Christ knows what he'd done.

One group of lads had a full look at me me me profile. Centre stage was the lemon in the impromptu David Warner shirt carrying sandpaper. How do they think of them? He's chatting the girlies. Asking the Barmy Army trumpet for requests. Trying to start a Mexican Wave. Carrying a blow up doll around the perimeter.

Lots of action for all you people watchers.

Plus, today, I have been forced to consider FLAG ETIQUETTE. We're on the sixth, back row of one of the temporary stands. You know the type. All scaffolding & bolts. Anyway the bit behind & above us is perfect for hanging your have you seen me on the tele Cross Of St George With Writing On. First up, it's taters, bordering on Baltic at times. When the wind is up, and the sun behind the clouds. Freezing. Get your compass out Pal. That is due West. If your flag goes there, it blocks the sun on my back, and I've left my Parka in the motel. I can't say that of course. Not the done thing.

Anyway, when it's ended, it's gone Southampton one vs Leicester & Man City both nil. The wind was coming from the West. The Leicester City flag has come detached at the bottom. Whacked me on the head. Dislodged me hat. And is now blowing horizontal above the Ball Sups head. He's had the good grace to come & retrieve it. Thus revealing a lovely flag shaped space. Tick. Tick. Tick.

Up comes the fella with the Man City flag. That barely lasts ten minutes before just one bottom corner rips it's moorings. It's high enough & small enough to not offer too much hat dislodging action. But, I do the decent thing, track him down, tell him his flag is fucked. He retrieves it. Thus revealing a lovely flag shaped space.

The sun has stayed on my back for maybe five life giving minutes before Southampton run out of the tunnel. He's benefited from a slight change of wind direction. And, also benefited from my advice. Tie It Tight. Or you'll be fucked an’ all. Dug in. Played it on merit. Southampton have survived until Bad Light forced them off.

I've had an affirming & slightly disappointing Beer Day. Although I didn't make beer lists on my previous NZ jaunts, there are two I definitely remember. And, I've “revisited 'em” today.

Tuatara, KAPAI Aotearoa Pale Ale at 5.8%
Emerson's NZ Pilsner at 4.9%

I remember drinking Emerson's in Dunedin in 2011. Like no other Pilsner I'd had. Very clean & crisp. More hop notes than you'd expect. Absolutely bursting with flavour. Emerson's was sold to evil empire Lion in 2012. (Lion in turn owned by Kirin). So, is no longer true pukka independent micro. Today's effort wasn't outstanding. But, it was still very nice. Full of flavour & a bit murky & un thingymajigged.

I remember drinking Tuatara APA on the front in Paraparaumu overlooking Kapiti Island in 2013. It's a nice story of course. A shortage of American Hops meant they were struggling with their American Pale Ale. So, they re-engineered the problem, whacked NZ Hops in. Voila, Aotearoa Pale Ale.

That was the simple profile. American style, NZ twist. Today's effort came up well short for me. Too sweet to show off any bitterness. Which wasn't really there anyway. Tuatara sold out to DB Breweries. Who in turn are owner by evil empire Heineken Asia. So, is no longer true pukka independent micro.

Never go back. They say …..

635/1320