It had been months in the planning (well at least two). It was first discussed at the fated over-drinking at the Vespa Bar. Tom had got the tickets and we were off to enjoy the one day International cricket match of New Zealand Black Caps versus The West Indies.For the weeks leading up to this match we had been thinking that as it was in mid summer we would be sitting there in 35 degree heat watching a marvellous match of cricket unfold in front of us, enjoying the odd ale or three and tucking into a huge bag of food.We tuned up with the huge bag of food, the bars were open in the stadium so the ale was sorted, both teams turned up from their warm up they looked like they knew what they were doing so cricket was definitely on the cards but the only thing that was missing was the sunshine. The black caps won the toss and elected to open the batting. Within the first over we had seen a six and a four, the second over brought a catch, the third was a maiden and the fourth brought another six. Sadly the sixth over brought rain and hail. We sheltered under the grandstands in the AMI stadium for an hour waiting to see what the weather was going to do. It was still raining. When we weighed up the pros and cons we thought that even if the rain were to stop it would take an hour or so to get the pitch dry and then the overs would be so limited that it probably would be cancelled.We decided that a trip to the pub was in order. It was when we were half way between the stadium and our favourite watering hole that the heavens opened. The hail was falling the size of golf balls (well if golf balls were half the size they really were!) and the rain was so heavy that most of the roads we were walking down were a foot under water!We reached the pub, sat down had a beer and phoned the girls to pick us up. A quick dinner back at Tom and Rachels and the skies cleared the sun came out and turning on Sky sports revealed that the cricket was back on. So back to the Stadium.The reduced 28 over match was very exciting in the end. New Zealand set158 for 8 of the full 28 overs leaving the West indies chasing what seemed like an impossible score judging by their performance in the first 10 or so overs. Tier required run rate was well up into the double figures at time and the Black Caps seemed to have it in the bag. But somehow in the end the match got closer and closer until it got to the final ball of the match where the West Indies required one run to equalise and two to win. Ramnaresh Sarwan struck the winning run off Tim Southee to be unbeaten on 67 from 65 balls. Denesh Ramdin was unbeaten on 28 from 18 balls, the pair sharing a crucial 48-run stand from 33 balls as they reached 159 for five. Albeit a rather starnge and interrupted day a good game of cricket was seen, a few ales were sunk, the huge bag of food was demolished and we got bonus dinner and pint thrown in for good measure!