What a match!
Not much to say, for words won't do it justice, but this match shows us just how brutal and beautiful not just cricket but every sport can be. You can come so close to winning and yet defeat by the smallest of margins can shatter you for ages. Momentum can be such a bitch - who knows what would have happened if the rain hadn't arrived? The fact that the game had so many rapid twists and turns must make the victory for New Zealand that much sweeter, and conversely the defeat for SA that much heartbreaking.
SA, along with NZ and Australia are my favourite teams. Am really happy for New Zealand but at the same time crushed by this defeat too. When they cried after Elliott's six, their passion and commitment to prove everyone wrong and to really get over the line and win this world cup was evident. Really classy post-match interview by AB too. Yes they've lost but this is as good a world cup showing as a team can hope for - they have proved their doubters wrong (they almost pulled off an anti-choke ffs), although the doubters wil claim otherwise, and shown strength and a lot of a courage. Likewise, NZ hung in and pulled off one of the ballsiest chases in WC history. What a set of brave and likeable guys both these teams consist of. They are my heroes and win or lose they are a great source of inspiration in my life, and that's what matters to me.
I think we should realize just how ****ing hard it is to win a World Cup. You can have one of the best players ever in your team, have a really good fielding/bowling day, do ****loads of things right and still lose because there was a team who wanted the win in equal measure and were lucky enough it was their day. That's hard luck, but it doesn't make your performance any less and I'm sure in the coming years people will acknowledge what an epic match this was.
This is sport, guys. It hurts, but it can be the sweetest thing too and more importantly it brings us all closer together.
