$50,000 payout clean bowled by wet outfield (1 April 1999)

1 April 1999

$50,000 payout clean bowled by wet outfield

The Christchurch Press

The decision to abandon the sixth one-day cricket international between New Zealand and South Africa has cost a luckless TAB investor a potential payout of $50,000.

The TAB confirmed in February that a bet of $18,000 had been placed on the Proteas to win the series 4-2.

TAB officials declined yesterday to confirm the identity of the mystery punter.

Master Christchurch punter Graham (Steel Balls) Bruton said "it wasn't me". But he was so disappointed at the match officials' decision that he would no longer punt on cricket.

Bruton confirmed he had invested $4000 at $3.10 on a 4-2 series win to the Proteas. He stood to gain $12,400, if South Africa won yesterday's game, but his hopes were dashed when the match was abandoned.

South Africa took the series, 3-2, after being in a strong position when the sixth match was called off on Tuesday, and rescheduled for yesterday.

Bruton said he was "so disappointed" not to get a collect. "This is definitely the last bet that Steel Balls Bruton will have on a cricket match," he said.

"The South Africans had reached 249 in 48 overs on Tuesday, and New Zealand simply could not have matched that on what was a slow track."

Bruton was more disappointed at the decision not to play the match on the reserve day yesterday.

"That's what really hurts me. Experienced commentators like Jeremy Coney said that there could have been play. I didn't even get a chance and have done my money cold. Even if they had just played a 25-over smash I would have had a hope.

"I feel it is deplorable that the ground staff have not taken greater care in looking after the bowlers' run-ups."

But, he retained his sense of humour. "Hell, if I was living in Wellington, I would been at the ground from midnight last night putting raincoats on the ground."

The result was not a bad one for the TAB, bookmaker Pete Young said.

"A 3-3 tied series result would have been our best result, but only just. There was a bit of late support for the any other result option (covering draws and/or abandonments) in the series. That option was backed in to $5 in the end."

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)