Chris Doig, the chief executive of NZC, would not say yesterday how much had been distributed to the six associations from the surplus, because the matter had not been put before the board, but it is believed to be $120,000 -- $20,000 each.

``We were ahead of budget for the tour and the board chairman (Sir John Anderson) has agreed with my recommendation that the provinces share in some of the profits,'' Doig said.

He said the crowd of 15,000 at Jade Stadium on Tuesday night was ahead of budget. ``We would love to have seen the ground chock-a-block. But it was a good crowd for this time of year and we hope to see more for South Africa, and I expect to,'' he said.

``We were significantly ahead of our budgetary expectations for the tour, but with all of these things we are pretty pessimistic with budgets. I'd rather be surprised than disappointed. Years in the entertainment industry taught me to be pessimistic about crowds.

``I thought in the two test matches the crowds were very good, and then to have a sell-out at Auckland (for the one-day game) . . . that's the first time we've done that for years.

``Christchurch was about where we anticipated it to be, so we weren't disappointed.''

Doig said that all four one-day games were ahead of budget and that the crowds at the two tests -- in Hamilton and Wellington -- made up for the lost test in Dunedin. ``But every sport operates on a knife edge. We are at the mercy of the weather and team performances . . .

``Our budgetary expectations are higher for South Africa so if we can meet or exceed those we will be very pleased. I'm expecting to exceed them.

``The team performing well against India helps, and we've had a feast of cricket not only in New Zealand but in Australia which has fired people's imaginations.

``We've got a side coming here that is arguably one of the two best in the world. If we can hold our own against them we will get plenty of support.

``I'm concerned that we might not perform well against the South Africans. You have to be. The West Indians are not the worst cricket team in the world, and they've been beaten, 5-0.

``We've got to be realistic. South Africa will be the strongest test that we've had at home for a long time. It will be a measure of the growth of the New Zealand side to see how they compete with them.''