News from Peter Randall in New Zealand

Former Club Captain Peter Randall is wintering Down Under in New Zealand and sent  the following message on 18 February 2000.

"Hi everyone at Falkland

I'm going to Eden Park tomorrow to watch the first one day international NZ 
vs. Aussie, its a sellout 35-40,000 thousand nutters and me, should be a good
day and night, might even have a few drinks.  They have given all cricket
leagues a day off so that every one can go.

The cricket season's going well, I'm bowling as well as ever, nets are 3 times
a week massive turn out every night 20-30 people every time. I usually go
twice a week. The first grade have got Robin Weston playing for them, he has
just left Derby and has signed a three year contract with Middlx, he's going
home end Feb to meet up with the team before flying off to South Africa for a
pre season tour.

We play 2 day games here (Sat to Sat) two innings games with the majority of
points being won for first innings which has a max of 60 overs each side. 
Quite a lot of crazy 4th innings run chases are set, we chased 170 in 26
overs 3 weeks ago and failed by 8 runs. The wickets are hard, flat and slow. 
Parnell are one of the better clubs in Auckland, they run about 7-8 teams
every Sat (including a women's team). The top 3 grades all play a good
standard and have about 10 teams in each division. I'm flitting between 2nd
and 3rd grade, the Prems take it all very very seriously and have 3-4
Auckland players.  I'm known throughout as Pete the Pom.

The season finishes on 25/3, the last few games are between the top 4 clubs
in the division who all play each other again to determine the Champs. I will
then start my tour around NZ before returning to the UK 23rd of April, in
time for the second weekend of the season.

I'm having a fantastic time out here, the pace of life, the people and the humour suit me
down to the ground. Wonder where I'll go next winter (Sri Lanka sounds nice)

This is Peter Randall, Falklands overseas rep, Auckland, New Zealand"