The battle begins - who will be the last man standing?
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Emergency supplies of beige-coloured clothing were being rushed across the Tasman Saturday as the build-up to the cricket World Cup final reached fever pitch in New Zealand. Catch all the live cricket score and live updates of the match here: LIVE SCORECARD
Brendon McCullum, with his infectious grin, had said before leading his side to a stunning semi-final win against South Africa that they were "having the time of our lives."
His enthusiasm has rubbed off on the nation where rugby union and the All Blacks have traditionally reigned with the Black Caps now receiving unprecedented support as they prepare to face Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Sunday's final.
New Zealand and Australia may be firm allies politically and form a feared fighting force at wartime, but when it comes to sport they are fierce rivals.
The World Cup showdown dominates the news with every possible angle thrashed from the Dominion-Post's how to win -- "Settle, then chase key for Black Caps" -- to Radio New Zealand's pointed reminder of "New Zealand's darkest day in Test cricket" when rolled for 26 by England in 1955.
Not only is the New Zealand bandwagon packed but the desire to be seen in replica beige clothing has jumped from the quirky to the norm.
Once the domain of a small group of ardent New Zealand supporters known as the Beige Brigade, named after the beige uniform briefly worn by New Zealand ODI teams in the 1980s, now it seems most Black Caps fans want to show their beige support.
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