'Bowl a Black Cap' event in Red Square draws large crowd

The excitement was palpable as children from local schools grabbed the unique chance to try and Bowl a Black Cap out in Red Square yesterday.

The event was part of the celebrations to welcome the Black Caps to the city as the team prepares to take on England in game two of the one-day international series at the Bay Oval tomorrow.

Red Square was transformed into a bowling pitch for the event, with large inflatable nets.

Keen fans from Pillans Point, St Mary's, Otumoetai Primary and Pongakawa schools were among the 200-strong crowd who lined up to bowl out batsmen Henry Nicholls and Tom Latham who were at the crease.

A delighted Jas O'Connor, 10, from St Mary's, was with about dozen of his school mates patiently waiting for his chance to bowl to Nicholls.

Jas said he was "rapt" when he dismissed Nicholls after he earlier rated his chances as about 20 to 40 per cent.

"It was really exciting... Henry gave me a bit of grin after I bowled him out. I'm not sure whether he went a bit easy on me but it was absolutely amazing," the grinning lad said.

Eli Banbury, 9, also from St Mary's, said it was exciting to just have a go and get up close to one of the Black Caps.

"I bowled to Tom Latham, who is more a test batsman than an ODI player, but while I didn't bowl him out, it was still really good. I'm going to keep trying until I do," Eli said.

With spots prizes of Black Caps one-day international shirts, training bags, 200 mini bats and the grand prize of two tickets to match or a signed Black Caps was an added incentive.

Black Caps batman Tom Lathan at the crease during the 'Bowl a Black Cap' event in Red Square. Photo/George Novak

Eli said he played in Division One of Gold Hard Ball grade at his school and dreamed of following in his hero Kane Williamson's footsteps.

Nicholls said these sort of events were "awesome" to be able to increase the level of engagement and contact between the players and their young fans.

"It's great to have this sort of event in the middle of town and see such a great turnout and the kids enjoy it as much we do. There might be a few dismissals but it's always fun,"

Downtown Tauranga spokeswoman Sally Cooke said it was an exciting, fun way to welcome the Black Caps to the city and show them the level of support they had.

Bay Oval Trust general manager Kelvin Jones earlier said a bumper crowd was expected for the biggest cricket match to be held in Tauranga.