Dear Editor,
Last Sunday’s World Cup Cricket final that ended in a nail biting tie, will go down in history as the most competitive spectacle in any sport. The phenomenal rise of New Zealand cricket from a low ebb in the early matches to being only a hair’s breadth away from lifting the World Cup Cricket trophy, reinforced the fact that discipline and fighting spirit are the most essential qualities needed in any sporting exercise if one is to come out on top. In the final analysis, both England and New Zealand displayed those traits. England lifted the trophy but New Zealand won the honours.
Ever since the first ever tied test between West Indies and Australia in December 1960, when Joe Solomon’s pinpoint throw with one stump to aim at left Ian Meckiff well short while attempting the winning run, the message was clear – good fielding wins matches. Today, some six decades later, similar writings are on the wall. However the West Indies, despite an array of talent at the recent World Cup, were dismal in the field with dropped catches and sloppy fielding being the order of the day that allowed for their early exit.
As I sat glued to the television last Sunday for more than nine hours, totally absorbed in a most gripping contest, it was like history repeating itself with another tie that all went via the run-out route in the final delivery. West Indies won the first World Cup in 1975 that will be remembered for the Lloyd/Kanhai partnership of over 149 runs after the loss of three early wickets. However, more remarkable was Viv Richards’ lightning speed and accurate throw-in resulting in the run out of the three top Australian batsmen, including the Chappell brothers, Ian and Greg. West Indies won the second world cup easily in 1979 but was shocked by India in their third attempt at Lords in 1983 when the majestic Kapil Dev took a well-judged running catch to dismiss the master blaster Viv Richards that turned fortunes away from the West Indies .
In this tournament, New Zealand qualified for the semi-final by edging out Pakistan on a better net run rate. They clashed with India who were leading in points at the end of the qualifying rounds. Many thought that India would simply cruise to victory given their previous performance, however, New Zealand shocked the world by defeating India. Once again New Zealand’s fielding was the hallmark of their success. This led India’s captain, Virat Kohli, to declare after the match that “India had the stars but New Zealand had the team.” England arrived at Lords in the final as favourites, chasing a target of 241 set by New Zealand looking comfortable with a strong batting line up.
The last hour of the final was the most gripping, tense, and nail-biting competition ever seen in cricket. When Jos Butler was dismissed by a well-judged catch on the deep mid-wicket boundary, the excitement began. Five wickets were left to score 46 runs in 25 deliveries for an England victory. Fortunes changed with every delivery that ended in a tie after 50 overs that took the match for the first time ever to the super over for a result. The super over ended in another tie. A miracle that will be remembered as the most unprecedented in the history of the game.
The tension of this unfolding drama proves that cricket, more than any other sport “is a game of glorious uncertainties.” Eventually, England lifted the World Cup Cricket trophy based on an opaque rule by scoring one more boundary than New Zealand. However it was the game of cricket that was the real winner in last Sunday’s World Cup final.
Yours faithfully,
Rajendra Rampersaud
