The ICC Cricket World Cup Final 2019 had produced one of the greatest games of the cricket history but the result was really a shame, said New Zealand opener Martin Guptill on Friday, 19th July.
England and New Zealand competed outstandingly for their maiden World Cup trophy at Lord’s last Sunday, but the way the hosts were announced the winners was cruel for the Kiwis, as they suffered the crushing disappointment despite scoring the same number of runs across the enthralling final here.
However, the Black Caps grieved a lot over the World Cup loss, but they had quite a good party once they realized that the Kiwis had played a huge part in one of the most thrilling cricket matches of all time.
Martin said the CWC Final 2019 was loved by everyone across the globe and New Zealand was applauded the way they accepted the defeat and shown game at Lord’s, but the result was just a shame.
As per reports in Sky Sports, Martin said on Friday, “Yeah, I think so. You know, the support that we had from back home and even around here, and what you see on social media, everyone just loved the game, whether they were cricket watchers or not. Everyone was all over the game and they loved it and it was just a shame for us about the result.”
He continued, “We actually had quite a good party. I mean, obviously it was quite a somber mood for a while but then we realized we were part of one of the greatest games in cricket history, so we got over it fairly quickly. We had a good time together, because we're not going to be together as a group like that for a while yet.”
Meanwhile, the Kiwi opener believes that the Black Caps were right in the box seat in the final until his own throw from the deep at Ben Stokes in England's final over of the original run-chase.
He continued, “Up until the third ball we were right in the box seat. And then it wasn't to be, but that's just the way cricket goes, as players. It was one hell of a final.”
Guptill also admitted that "thought crosses his mind" that New Zealand were simply missed out on the coveted title due to that controversial throw, which gave away a total of six runs to Stokes who managed to tie the original run-chase for England at Lord’s.
The 32-year-old recalled, “I guess it was the throw that I threw in from the boundary and hit the back of Stokes' bat, and trickled off for four. You know when that sort of thing happens, from a throw from the boundary, it tends not to go your way.”
Later, the right-hander’s run-out in the Super-over played a huge role in New Zealand losing out the title and the opener said he didn't know where the ball was when he ran between the wickets at Lord’s.
Guptill signed off by saying, “I didn't really know where the ball was, I just put the head down and just started running. It was a good throw and I dived from about halfway, and just come up a little bit short. Up until the third ball we were right in the box seat. And then it wasn't to be, but that's just the way cricket goes, as players. It was one hell of a final.”
(With Sky Sports Inputs)
