New Zealand Cricket

Basin Magic Moments

Basin Reserve Magic Moments 22-28 December

Since hosting its first cricket game in 1868, the Hawkins Basin Reserve has been the venue of 407 first class matches and 52 Tests.

Christmas has always been a busy time of the year at the Hawkins Basin Reserve, and indeed has been the focal point of festivities both on Christmas Day and more recently on Boxing Day. First class cricket matches were traditionally played at the Basin on Christmas Day, with play starting up at 2pm following Christmas lunch for the players and also so as to give the spectators ample time to get down to the ground to watch.

As such there have been numerous magic cricketing moments at the ground down the years this week, but here is a small selection of some recent ones:

1987 : Prolific run scoring opener Bruce Edgar is left not out 99 in his benefit match as Wellington beats Canterbury by six wickets. Despite a century by Paul McEwen, Wellington had bowled Canterbury out for 195 and Wellington is struggling early on in their innings at 43 for 3. But Edgar is joined at the crease by Gavin Larsen (66) and together the pair adds 142 in 108 minutes to set up the win. When Wellington wins with 20 balls to spare Edgar is one short of his century.

Above: Bruce Edgar scoring more runs through the on-side for Wellington in the 1980s.

1997 : Chris Nevin blasts 149 in a one-day match against Central Districts to help set up a comfortable seven wicket win inside 46 overs. International players Craig Spearman (76) and Matthew Sinclair (55) helped CD to 247 for 7 from their 50 overs, but Nevin, with support from Jason Wells (78 not out) sees Wellington home with 29 balls to spare after the loss of both openers for ducks. Nevin and Wells add 216 for the third wicket, setting a new record for any wicket in the Shell Cup. Nevin reaches 50 in 39 balls and his maiden century off 83 deliveries. It remains the highest one-day score by a Wellington player.

1998 : The inaugural Boxing Day Test match at the Basin Reserve is a huge success – off the field as well as on it – with New Zealand’s four wicket win over India one of the special Test victories at the ground. Seam bowler Simon Doull rips the heart out of India’s batting on the first morning of the match to have the tourists reeling at 16 for 4, before recovering to be all out for 208. In reply Dion Nash scores 89 not out and Nathan Astle 56 in a total of 352. India then musters 356 in its second innings and New Zealand reaches 215 for 6 for victory with Craig McMillian finishing unbeaten on 74.