The partisan crowd at the University Oval in Dunedin created an electric atmosphere that lifted the BLACKCAPS to tense 32 run win over Pakistan.
Captain Daniel Vettori and man of the match Shane Bond were full of praise and made special mention of the support, saying it was a significant factor in getting the team across the line.
Speaking shortly after the game Vettori said “I’d like to make a special mention of the atmosphere that was there and the crowd was amazing”.
“It lifted everyone and it was almost the first thing we spoke about when we came off the field.
“What a great feeling to win the Test match but in front of a crowd that was so into it.”
The odds were stacked against the BLACKCAPS who required five wickets after tea on the final day, but the weary bowing attack found strength on the back of the support from the Dunedin faithful.
As they edged closer to victory the crowd became more animated, cheering every dot ball and erupting after each wicket.
Shane Bond, who marked his return to Test cricket with eight wickets was a key contributor to the result and was grateful that the locals got off the couch to get behind the team.
"It (the crowd) definitely came into the game. There was a time there when I thought the game was drifting away and then we got a sniff and the crowd got into the game and gave everyone a lift and we kicked on from there.
“It was a great setting and to have a crowd on Saturday afternoon like that was brilliant."
The BLACKCAPS haven’t tasted a lot of Test success lately and the way Vettori celebrated the final wicket and embraced his team highlighted how much it meant to the team.
“It was one of those Test matches that everyone want to be involved in.
“Obviously you want to be on the right side of it and to came down to the last session with that crowd, it felt like there was about 80,000 people out there rather than how ever many there were so it was a great atmosphere and I think the game did it justice,” Vettori said.
The team are hoping the Wellington public will make the effort to get to the ground as they look to wrap up the series with a win in the second Test at the Basin Reserve.
