DOG HOLDS FEILDING CRICKET MATCH TO RANSOM, DECLINES TO NAME PRICE

A match between two Year 6 sides in Feilding was held up for 20 minutes on Saturday morning by a huntaway named Bruce. Bruce trotted onto the pitch, picked up the ball off a cover drive, and refused to enter negotiations.

The batsmen ran three while Bruce did laps of the outfield. Umpire Graeme Tilley, who is also the keeper's grandad, then called dead ball. The boundary rope went off.

"That's fucking three runs, Graeme," said Shane Whitlock, father of the non-striker, still holding a thermos like it might be evidence. "Dog's not on the team sheet. Dog's not a fielder. Ball's in play, dog's got it, that's the fielding side's problem. Read the laws, mate, or ask your grandson. He can read."

Bruce belongs to a Massey student who is home for the holidays and was, at the time, asleep. "That's the Kereama boy's dog," said Deb Halligan, who runs the sausage sizzle. "Bruce gets out when the town goes quiet. He's been to the saleyards twice. He knows everyone's ute."

An official from the competition said the ruling was "consistent with the spirit of the game" but admitted the laws had "no explicit section on dogs". Asked whether the three runs stood, the official said the match had been decided on "vibes and who left first".

Play resumed with a spare ball from someone's boot. Bruce watched from mid-off, sat down at the next wicket, and was later seen on Manchester Square with the original ball in his mouth. The student has not yet woken up.