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$50,000 payout clean bowled by wet outfield The Christchurch Press - 1 April 1999 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 Editorial comments can be sent to The Christchurch Press at press@press.co.nz |
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