Sydney,March 26: New Zealand batting star Grant Elliott has pledged to pay for his sister’s honeymoon because he is skipping her wedding in order to play in the World Cup final.
Elliott was originally scheduled to attend sister Kate’s wedding on Saturday but now has a date with destiny after propelling New Zealand into their first ever final with a six off the penultimate ball in Tuesday’s semifinal against South Africa.
Kate Elliott said she realised the significance of the date when she booked her wedding venue 12 months ago but felt the chances were remote of her brother making the New Zealand team, let alone playing in the final.
“(The booking) was on the Saturday before the final of the World Cup, I had to ask him, ‘What are the chances?’,” she told Fairfax New Zealand.
“At that time he wasn’t in the squad, and he said that he didn’t think he would be called up. I booked it and he gave me his blessing.”
She said he was now unable to make the big day but had promised her and fiance Dean Plews a honeymoon to the destination of their choice if New Zealand win the World Cup.
“We will hold him to that,” she said. “I told him before he left, ‘go and win it now, not because of the honeymoon, but just go smash it’,” she said.
She told the New Zealand Herald she was at Eden Park to see her brother’s man-of-the-match 84 not out and screamed with delight when he hit the winning runs.
“It was mixed emotions; he won’t be able to see us on the day and we are such a close family,” she said ahead of the wedding, which will take place at Waiheke Island, off the Auckland coast.
“But I saw his face on the big screen again and he just had the biggest smile.”
“From the beginning I said if you can reach your dream that would be incredible, I’ll be happy for you.”
Elliott’s New Zealand will meet the winner of today’s semi-final between Australia and India in the tournament decider at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
AFP
