Sunday’s Fill the Basin Twenty20 appeal match raised $500,000 for Canterbury, rocked last month by a devastating earthquake.
The money, to be donated to the Prime Minister’s Earthquake Appeal, includes $130,000 in gate sales alone, plus several other fundraisers that include funds raised from Prime Minister the Right Honuorable John Key hitting Australian leg spinning legend Shane Warne to the fence in a special over during the break between innings.
Key whipped a low full toss through the square region for four, prompting match day sponsor Fujitsu to donate $100,000 to the cause. The money raised also included $50,000 by the TAB in a boundary hitting pledge and the kind generosity of other sponsors, including Telecom text message pledges by fans that were published on the big screen, bucket donations around the ground, and TradeMe auctions.
Match organsier Stephen Fleming was overwhelmed afterwards: “The city has got right in behind this event and I’d like to thank our partners, the players and all those who made the event a special day. It was great having Bob Parker here on behalf of the people of Canterbury and I hope the event helped show Canterbury how much the country is behind them.”
Wellington turned on a perfect day for the event, with up to 10,000 people ringing the Hawkins Basin Reserve.
For the record, the Canterbury Invitation XI, captained by Fleming, won by 10 runs.
Fleming’s team batted first and made 225 for 5 off its allotted 20 overs. It was led by a blistering knock of 61 off 29 balls by Nathan Astle at the top of the order, Astle taking apart Cricket Wellington CEO in one particular over of batting carnage.
Mark Greatbatch made 47 off 27 balls, Craig McMilian made 41 off just 12 balls and Marc Ellis chimed in with 25 off 11 at the end.
The Martin Crowe skippered Wellington Legends XI fell short on 215 for 5 off its 20 overs, recently retired Wellington Firebirds opener Matthew Bell powering to 61 off 23 balls. Bruce Edgar making 37 off 31 balls and Roger Twose 57 off 33 balls.
The day started at 11am with a curtain raiser between a Wellington Invitational XI and a New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association XI. This was followed by a kids’ day on the Basin before the main event opened up with the introduction of the teams and match officials on the field, a minute’s silence, the singing of the national anthems and a solo set by Opshop lead vocalist Jason Kerrison.
The star studded line-up of match officials included All Black captain Richie McCaw, All Black centre Conrad Smith, and Hollywood heavyweights Sir Ian McClellan, the gladiator himself Russell Crowe and hobbits Martin Freeman and Mark Hadlow.
A large cheer was also reserved for former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga, who had McMillan caught at the wicket off his own bowling and then took a brilliant catch at cover to help remove Dion Nash.
The Basin Reserve Trust, Cricket Wellington and everyone involved would like to thank the large crowd in attendance for helping to put on an excellent, trouble free day in the sun.
Wellington Legends XI: Martin Crowe (captain), Andrew Jones, Bruce Edgar, Chris Nevin, Ewen Chatfield, Gavin Larsen, Jason Wells, Jonathan Millmow, Matthew Bell, Richard Petrie, Roger Twose, Tana Umaga.
Canterbury Invitation XI: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Geoff Allott, Mark Ellis, Mark Greatbatch, Sir Richard Hadlee, Rod Latham, Craig McMillan, Dion Nash, Adam Parore, Justin Vaughan, Shane Warne.
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