Shammika Rodrigo went a long way to make sure Sri Lankan fans had a strong presence at the cricket yesterday.
A clutch of about 30 fans kept up a constant cacophony of support at the one-day match at the University Oval in Dunedin, clapping, cheering and chanting for their team.
They were backed by a 15m-long Sri Lankan flag Mr Rodrigo had brought back from a recent trip there.
And his enthusiasm may have helped his compatriots on the field.
The colourful fan also attracted the attention of a ground announcer, who asked Mr Rodrigo his thoughts on the match when New Zealand had amassed 360 runs and Sri Lanka was just starting its innings.
The Delta worker, who has been in New Zealand for eight years, predicted Sri Lanka would have the game in the bag by more than 35 - a prediction greeted by some derisive laughter from the crowd.
But the next two balls were easily dispatched by batsman Lahiru Thirimanne to the boundary - one a swashbuckling six that landed in the crowd.
Not far from that excitement, Grant Elliott, who starred in New Zealand's innings with a partnership with Luke Ronchi that resulted in a world-record unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 267, was a big hit with kids near the sideline.
''Just get your pens ready, OK?'', he told the eager line-up.
Dividing his time between a strong fielding effort and public relations, he told the waiting children the team would spend plenty of time providing signatures at the end of the game.
He did not stop, though, providing for his fans as the game continued.
The University Oval provided a perfect backdrop for a hot summer's day of shorts and jandals.
And, unsurprisingly, a beer outlet had been ''a bit frantic'', the barman said.
