England vs New Zealand: Greatest game ever played

July, 15: Goosebumps at Lord’s. Disbelief. Shock. Sorrow. Unadulterated delight. It was a triumph of human spirit at Lord’s. How did they do it? Such mind-boggling skills, jaw-dropping calmness — is it even possible?

In years to come, we will shake our heads in disbelief at the greatest World Cup final. Ever. How did Ben Stokes, the man who has been through hell in the last year where even regular pub visits threatened to put him in jail, manage to find such mental tenacity to drag his team to a Super Over? How did Kane Williamson and his men roam and patrol the field with such eerie calmness? How did they reach within themselves and find such strength? It would have been understandable had Stokes or the New Zealanders given up, or shown some human weakness. They didn’t.

What would have happened if a throw from New Zealand’s best fielder Martin Guptill hadn’t bounced off Ben Stokes’s outstretched bat and run away for four? Would New Zealand have won? Cruel, perhaps, but what if Stokes had pulled off a six later? Who knows!

(Indian Express)

Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.