New Zealand’s Tim Robinson celebrates his century against Australia in the first game of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy T20 cricket series at Bay Oval, Tauranga. 1 October 2025 Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Black Cap Tim Robinson's first T20 century against Australia felt bittersweet on two counts.
While it was a "fantastic feeling" to get the ton, he felt it was overtaken by the fact the Australians won by six wickets at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval on Wednesday night.
It felt strange for Robinson too - he was playing only because his good mate Rachin Ravindra was ruled out injured, after needing stitches to a face wound he got at fielding practice.
"No, I wasn't expecting to play,'' Robinson told reporters after the match.
"He is one of my close mates, it's horrible to see him injure himself and miss out on playing for a team he loves. I'm gutted to have missed him. Again, that is a weird feeling," Robinson, who batted at No 3, said.
"Bittersweet is a perfect way to describe it, I think," he said.
"It's definitely a bit of a double-edged sword. I'm obviously, personally, pretty happy with how I went, but that's probably trumped by the fact that we've lost that game."
Robinson and Daryl Mitchell had salvaged a shocking start for the Black Caps, which saw them lose three wickets in the first two overs after Australia won the toss and decided to field.
Robinson scored an unbeaten 106 off 66 balls, putting on a 92-run partnership with Mitchell, who scored 34, and guiding the Black Caps to 181 for six.
Any hopes of that being a competitive total were soon dashed.
Australian captain Mitchell Marsh put the Black Caps bowlers to the sword, hitting 85 off 43 balls, with nine boundaries and five sixes. With support from Travis Head (31 from 18), Matthew Short (29 from 18) and Tim David (21 not out from 12), Australia overtook the Black Caps total in the 17th over, for the loss of four wickets.
Australian captain Mitch Marsh hits a six against the Black Caps. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd 2025
Bowlers Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and Kyle Jamison all went for more than 10 runs per over.
Robinson, who played for Northamptonshire in English county cricket this season, was keen for more action.
"I'm hungry for more. I want to keep doing the jersey proud, and keep doing the boys I'm playing with proud, and my family," he said.
"I'd love to be a versatile batter that can come in at one or seven or whatever, sometimes that's not really the done thing, but I'm trying to be as versatile as possible."
Robinson said he had arrived back in New Zealand the weekend before last and was straight into work on the family farm in Rangitikei.
While it had been a busy time docking lambs, his father David had taken time out and driven the five hours to Bay Oval when his son told him yesterday he was in the playing 11.
"He shifted some sheep this morning and jumped into the car."
The two teams clash in game two of three on Friday evening. All the matches are being played at Mount Maunganui.
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