So much flipping fun Nathan tosses twice

It wasn't the sort of TV coverage Nathan Upfold had in mind when he walked out for the coin toss before the start of yesterday's one-day international cricket match in Napier.

With stand-in New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum calling heads at McLean Park, the St Patrick's School pupil flipped the 50c piece at 1.30pm before the day-nighter against a win-less Zimbabwe team.

"The coin landed on the TV camera cord," the 10-year-old said with a grin, as McCullum and his counterpart, Brendan Taylor, waited patiently for him to reload after the man with the moustache (match official and former Australian cricketer David Boon) handed him the 50c piece again.

Bingo, second time around as Nathan brought a wide smile to McCullum's face before the Black Caps set the tourists an imposing 374-8 target.

Zimbabwe lost by 202 runs.

Nathan, with his father Alec Upfold within earshot, then posed for a photograph with the two captains.

For his troubles, the South African-born youngster received a commemorative coin from sponsors the National Bank as well as a T-shirt, cap and wrist band.

Nathan won the bank competition after his mother, Lesley, had secretly entered his name. He was one of a dozen winners chosen throughout the country.

"His class mates were very proud of him," said Mr Upfold, an engineer at Quality Bakeries in Napier.

The Upfolds emigrated to New Zealand in June 2009 from Pietermaritzburg, about 80km out of Durban, after Alec got a job here.

Nathan's passion is soccer but he aims to pick up cricket next summer.

It was the Upfolds' first Zimbabwe match but they intend to watch the South Africa v Black Caps ODI at McLean Park on February 29.

So who will they support?

"We'll wear two hats and blow with the wind, I think," Mr Upfold said after a few seconds' thought.