It is hard to hide your true colours when you are running around waving a large Bangladeshi flag in front of a crowd of New Zealand cricket supporters. It is even harder when you are also wearing a tiger costume.
But that is exactly what Nazmul Islam chose to do yesterday.
It was the first time the Dunedin man had watched his team play at the University Oval against New Zealand and it was the first international cricket match his son ''the mini tiger'' had attended.
The Bangladesh team are known as the Tigers. Mr Islam's wife bought the costume from an op-shop earlier this week.
At the start of play, he was confident his team could win the final game in the three-match series, avoiding a whitewash.
''We're enjoying watching the boys play and I'm very confident we will win the match.''
However, as the game progressed, his optimism subsided as New Zealand posted 330.
''I think the total will be too much for us to chase down today, but still we're having a good time and, hopefully, they can put
up a big score for us.''
While Mr Islam's team left him slightly disappointed, not far away New Zealand supporter Casey Crawford was on his feet cheering.
At the 30-over mark when the Black Caps were on 153, Mr Crawford made a bold prediction of 330 runs for their final score. His wife, Debbie, was slightly more ambitious and predicted
a score of 342.
But it was Mr Crawford who had a smile on his face as he leapt into the air after spin bowler Mitchell Santner hit two runs off the last ball, to make his prediction come true.
''I knew it, I told you, it was never in doubt.''
The couple travelled from their home in Methven for the match, the ninth international of the season they have attended.
''We don't take holidays, we just go to the cricket,'' Mrs Crawford said.
New Zealand Cricket said 4277 people attended the match.
Police said they were pleased with the behaviour of the crowd and no arrests were made.
