Dejected James Neesham apologizes after New Zealand’s defeat to England in the World Cup final

Left-hander James Neesham smacked Jofra Archer over the cow corner in the Super Over of the World Cup 2019 final and New Zealand could smell victory. The Kiwi fans had waited for this moment for four years after Brendon McCullum couldn’t quite take his team over the line in 2015. The Black Caps fought valiantly and eventually it came down to a couple of runs off the last ball with the very experienced Martin Guptill on strike.

Guptill stroked the leather on the leg side and in an attempt to complete the second run, got run out. New Zealand tied the Brits even in the Super Over. But the dark side of cricket robbed them of the World Cup glory. The Three Lions got their hands on the World Cup on accounts of hitting more boundaries. Guptill was on his knees and Neesham was seen consoling him.

The all-rounder would also have been shattered after finishing on the losing side. He scored 13 runs off five balls in the Super Over and tried his level best. To his sheer agony, his efforts went in vain.

Neesham stepping up for the Kiwis

Neesham made his comeback in the ODI team earlier this year versus Sri Lanka and he didn’t flatter to deceive. The 28-year-old was thereafter picked to play the mega event as well and he ended up as one of the star performers for his side. In 10 matches, Neesham racked up 232 runs.

The left-hander scored those runs at an average of 33.14 and a strike-rate of 78.91. The Auckland-born batter got his highest score of 97* against Pakistan at the Edgbaston in Birmingham after his team was on the mat. He was also outstanding with the ball in hand, having gotten 15 wickets.

Neesham was entrusted to bowl some of the key overs during the tournament. After picking up the vital wicket of Carlos Brathwaite in Manchester, he picked up India’s last wicket in the semi-final. Even in the Final at Lord’s, he bagged three wickets in his spell.

After the final, amidst all the disappointment, the all-rounder took to Twitter and wrote, “Thank you to all the supporters that came out today. We could hear you the whole way. Sorry, we couldn’t deliver what you so badly wanted,”

Here is Neesham’s tweet:

Thank you to all the supporters that came out today. We could hear you the whole way. Sorry we couldn’t deliver what you so badly wanted.

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) July 15, 2019