Test wins don't come around that often, given that Test cricket doesn't come around too often for the Blackcaps, let alone Test wins on foreign soil where a touring team needs to have a roster with the various skills to deal with funky conditions.
Coming into the fourth day of the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand, Pakistan were 37/0 with a further 139 runs to win and all of their wickets in hand, so none of what was to follow would’ve been possible had Kane Williamson not opted for double spin to start the day.
Ford Trophy mayhem has eased up and we were a single run away from having a century in all three games yesterday, with Wellington Firebirds youngster Jakob Bhula letting the gang down.
Ford Trophy cricket has hit nek level hard and fast mode, with all six teams congregating in Canterbury - wonder what they're all going to do on their day off today?
Any time that Blackcaps Test cricket pops out of obscurity, kiwis rejoice and with the Blackcaps hours away from starting the first Test vs Pakistan in United Arab Emirates, we are preparing for our first glimpse of the Blackcaps in whites under new coach Gary Stead.
As Andrew Fletcher hit his third century of the Ford Trophy in Wellington Firebirds' win over Central Districts Stags, another Ford Trophy opener in Cantabrian Jack Boyle also went large and has low key stacked up a pile of runs to match Fletcher's dominance.
Two games into their World T20 campaign and Aotearoa's White Ferns slump continues after they were giving another touch up by Australia.
Perhaps the best change in kiwi cricket recently has been greater focus and intention around Aotearoa 'A' cricket, resulting in an abundance of A cricket for Aotearoa's second tier.
The comeback begins on December 15 in Christchurch against Alexander "The Great" Flores. 28 years old, of Mexican heritage but born in and based out of the United States, with a 17-1-1 record including 15 KOs.
Having recently scribbled about Otago Volts' young seam attack, Jacob Duffy took a 5-for and along with Nathan Smith and Matt Bacon they accounted for the 9 wickets taken by Otago bowlers in the win over Wellington Firebirds.
We have only just started the summer of cricket in Aotearoa and already, at various stages Jimmy Neesham has shown that he's on the right track via a change of scenery in moving up to Wellington. Meanwhile, this Dean Foxcroft lad goes alright.
While many kiwis with an interest in White Ferns cricket would have been optimistic about their World T20 chances, especially after doing what they always do in beating up weaker opposition and impressing in warm up games, a first up loss to India came with a severe dose of reality.
After being given a wee bit of a hiding in the T20I series against Pakistan, Aotearoa's Blackcaps are nicely poised heading into the third and final ODI with a win in the first game along with strong performances across the two games thus far.
There is hope for all you cricketing plebs, after ol' mate offie Will Somerville got called up to the Blackcaps Test squad to face Pakistan in United Arab Emirates.
From another Kiwi-African making his mark in domestic cricket, to a couple blokes who have been in and out of the Blackcaps mixer and a young slugger warming up; round five in the Ford Trophy had plenty to suss out.
ODI time for Aotearoa's Blackcaps as we slide on into the next stage of their tour of United Arab Emirates, into a format that means a whole lot more right now with the World Cup looming than the 20-over stuff and coach Gary Stead has called up George Worker and Lockie Ferguson.
As Wellington Firebirds seamer Hamish Bennett sits on his throne, watching over the kingdom he rules as Aotearoa's best domestic seamer, he sees a trio of young Otago seamers making waves in the slums of the city.
There was only one century-maker in Ford Trophy round four as Auckland Aces skipper Craig Cachopa led his troops to a narrow win over Canterbury, with Chad Bowes finally finding his groove at the top of Canterbury's batting order as well and Wellington’s Jimmy Neesham steadily chiming in.
Two T20I against Pakistan in their United Arab Emirates cauldron and two losses for Aotearoa's Blackcaps.
Not wanted for the Aotearoa 'A' tour, nor the Blackcaps T20 squad, Henry Nicholls and Tom Latham have been living it up in the delightful world of domestic cricket.