New Zealand registered a nerve-wrecking five-run victory over West Indies in the 29th match of ICC Cricket World Cup at Old Trafford, Manchester on Saturday (June 22).
When the match was going down to the wire, courtesy Carlos Brathwaite’s swashbuckling strokeplay with one wicket left, the Kiwi fans were seen doing prayers at the stadium. And after the end result, the Black Caps fans delayed a flight to rejoice their triumph.
Kieran McAnulty, who is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party, posted an interesting story on Twitter about New Zealand fans celebrating their close win against the Calypso Kings.
"My @FlyAirNZ flight was fully boarded, the plane loud from all the live streams. 12 balls left, 1 wicket needed. Please don’t start the plane. The @BLACKCAPS win! We all erupt in unison. Only then, amongst the cheers, did the plane start to move. It was a beautiful moment. #CWC19," he tweeted.
Chasing 292 to win, Brathwaite resurrected West Indies' struggling innings from 170/7 with a magnificent ton (101 off 82 balls). His knock was studded with nine fours and five sixes. After all the hard yards, Brathwaite mistimed a pull shot that reached only as far as the hands of long-on fielder Trent Boult and Windies were found five short of New Zealand’s total.
With this win, Kane Williamson and company strengthened their top position in the points table and maintained their unbeaten streak in the tournament. Their next few clashes are all expected to be a thriller as they face Pakistan (June 26), Australia (June 29) and England (July 3).
