Cricket lover Laura Davidson, of Scotland, had planned to give Canadian chums Cindy Zakrausky and Robin Bush some insight into the British Empire's great gift to the world.
However, the trio instead learnt a lesson in patience and optimism familiar to cricket fans the world over.
The three - who live in Nelson - set off on Tuesday night to make the New Zealand versus Pakistan match, and between a prodigious intake of Red Bull and a driver/navigator/back-seat sleeper driving roster, managed only three hours' sleep apiece.
Three unlucky animals - "two bunnies and an orange kitten" - lost their lives on the road trip, all the sadder for animal lover Ms Zakrausky, a part-time SPCA volunteer who was driving when the feline crossed her path.
Apart from the fluffy fatalities - and a vague bemusement that an international fixture could not be rescheduled - the only other shock for the Canadians was the low-alcohol brew at the venue. "The 3.5% beer was upsetting for Canadians, as it was their first-time experience with cricket," Ms Davidson said, nursing a plastic cup of wine.
Despite the weather, the trio would not let the rain dampen their spirits, staying longer than most at the ground before the match was officially called off just after 3pm.
Further down the bank, another group of Canadians - University of Otago PhD students Cliff Patterson, Stephanie Shkrum and Danielle Salmon - were being shown the ropes by Anita Perkins of Dunedin, who gave the three catching practice with a plastic bat.
Encouraged by his first four overs of live cricket, Mr Patterson said Ms Perkins had done "a good job" of explaining the basic rules of the game.
