Bowled over: Bay Oval will surprise

As 10CC famously said, “I don’t like cricket… I love it!” and when the Black Caps are in town, the Bay certainly

has a lot of love for their national team.

So, if you do love a day out in the sun or you’re a committed cricket fiend, you’ll be thrilled that this month brings two

games to the beautiful Bay Oval (howzat for a stunning venue?!)

And, it’s thanks to this venue’s extensive $5m upgrade that more international games are coming to our region. With

the additional of a new embankment and six LED light towers to play games into the evening, it’s seen the

revitalisation of the sport – last year’s summer season saw 9000 fans pack a sell-out game with the Black Caps v India,

the biggest event in the history of the Oval.

For the uninitiated, the games this month come in two formats: Twenty20 and One Day International (ODI)

For those who are short on time for sport, Twenty20 on February 2 is the perfect format. The two teams have a

single innings each, which is restricted to a maximum of 20 overs. The game typically goes for about three hours, with

each innings lasting around 90 minutes and an official 10-minute break between the innings. It’s perfect for newbies to

the game or those who have a short attention span.

Then, the One Day International (ODI) is underway on February 11, the BLACKCAPS’ 3 rd ODI with India as part of their

tour of New Zealand. As the name implies, it’s a longer game (it starts at 3pm, so technically not a whole day, but a

long afternoon / evening) so your love for cricket must be strong.

Either way, it’s a great day out in the sun and a great atmosphere for all ages and interest levels. Head there early for

good parking spots… and be patient on the way out too!