AUCKLAND // Given the precision timing with which Grant Elliott orchestrated a nerve-shredding run-chase for New Zealand against South Africa, it would be easy to think he is good at planning.
Not so. He is going to have to miss his sister’s wedding this weekend now. He has something else on instead.
The small matter of a cricket World Cup final, which is his adopted nation’s first. As a direct consequence, the agonising wait for his home country to sample the same will go on.
"My family is here and my sister has her wedding on Friday, so unfortunately I will miss that," Elliott said, after playing probably the most famous shot in the history of New Zealand cricket.
“Can you put that in the press to say ‘I’m sorry’? I saw her earlier and she was pretty happy for me. I’m going to have to give her a special gift.”
AB de Villiers, the defeated South Africa captain, said he and Dale Steyn, the bowler entrusted with trying to keep New Zealand to less than 10 (a tie would have been enough for them to advance) off the final over, had planned to bowl a length ball on the fifth delivery, to Elliott.
“We decided to go length, hoping he’ll play and miss it, and he played one of the shots of his life, probably the best,” De Villiers said.
He also denied the idea that it hurt more that New Zealand’s matchwinner had been born and raised in South Africa.
“We played against New Zealand today and he played a wonderful knock,” De Villiers said. “He is a sportsman, he gives his best for his team.”
Elliott was born in Johannesburg, learnt his cricket there, and only moved to New Zealand in adulthood.
However, he says he regards himself as a New Zealander. Noticeably, he is one of the most vocal singers during the anthem.
“When I emigrated to New Zealand I wanted to become a New Zealander and I have made this country my home,” he said.
“It is great to repay the hospitality everyone has shown right from when I arrived in New Zealand. I love the country.
“I left South Africa when I did, I went to school there, have some good friends there, but New Zealand is my home and I’m stoked to have got New Zealand to the final.”
Fans at Eden Park have been spoilt at this competition. Auckland’s largest stadium also played host to the low-scoring thriller between New Zealand and Australia in the group stage.
This one also induced collective palpitations among the 41,279 congregation, a stellar crowd for a work day near the start of the week. Absenteeism in Auckland must have been rife.
If they put in for a second sick day today, it would be understandable. Hospitals around these parts will probably have a surfeit of finger injuries to deal with, with nails have been bitten down beyond the quick.
Elliott’s poise in scoring his unbeaten 84 to secure the four-wicket win belied the fact he had been short on time at the crease so far in the competition.
He said his team were thrilled to win it for the crowd.
“The support has been overwhelming,” Elliott said.
“There has been a lot of talk about us only reaching the semi-final and not kicking on.
“Although this means a lot to the team, you could see the emotion in the stands. It means a lot to a lot of people.
“Hopefully we can repay the faith in the final as well.”
pradley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
SCHEDULE
Thursday, December 6
08.00-15.00 Technical scrutineering
15.00-17.00 Extra free practice
Friday, December 7
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 1
15.30 BRM F1 qualifying
Saturday, December 8
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 2
15.30 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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'Moonshot'
Director: Chris Winterbauer
Stars: Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse
Rating: 3/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
Pari
Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment
Director: Prosit Roy
Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani
Three stars
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
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The specs
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
