Death throes of a dahlia

A big day today in the World Cup Cricket and one I had already decided would involve much sitting in front of the TV!  I wasn't disappointed.  

It looked like Australia were heading for a huge score until they lost a couple of key wickets, then their promising start began to crumble at an astonishing rate.  From 2-80 to 9-106.......7 wickets for just 26 runs.  New Zealand then struggled to take the last remaining wicket allowing Australia to score another 45 runs and letting them back in to the match to some degree.  

New Zealand's turn to bat: 1-40......2-78.......3-79.......4-79......[things are strarting to get tense].....5-131......8-146.....NZ still needing 6 runs to win and down to the last 2 wickets.....9-146.......it's almost too hard to watch..........then a booming 6 to take the victory!  What a crazy game!!

This dahlia and her friends have graced my living room for the past week but sadly, her time has come.  Not before a few pics though.