EMPIRE’S LUCK!
   Date :16-Jul-2019

 
 
HOW cruel can sports become? As a disillusioned and devastated New Zealand team keeps searching an answer to its poignant query, the English team revels in its massive stroke of luck that landed them their first World Cup trophy. The heartstopping double-tie at Lord’s on Sunday yet again proved that it is ultimately the rub of the green that decides fate of human endeavours.
 
 
Cricket was blessed with a match that will be discussed for ages. It had a healthy sprinkling of every element of life — passion, perseverance, pain, and stroke of luck. Sports was at its scintillating, excruciating, wonderful best even as two first-timers fought out a gallant battle that will define World Cup finals henceforth. At the end of two innings and a super over there was no clear winner but only 22 heroes who gave their every ounce of blood and sweat for the ultimate glory in cricket. It was but out of chance and a questionable rule of counting boundaries that declared England the final champion.
 
 
Nothing to take away from Eoin Morgan’s awesome team but inside the chambers of their heart even they will be thanking God who definitely chose to sit in the England balcony during the insane last hour of the pulsating final. The fortune part aside, England deserve the accolades for the fight they put up despite a wobbly start. The fact that they never refused to throw in the towel makes them a worthy competitor. This was the same England team that found itself in total darkness after the humiliating exit in the 2015 World Cup. Their transformation under captain Morgan into a fearless One-Day unit is tribute to the leadership skills of the Irishman, who brought about a 360 degree change in England’s thinking. A part of credit must go to former skipper Andrew Strauss for the faith he had put in Morgan. On the other side stood a gutted New Zealand side who deserved to be the winner. It was shattering bolt for Kane Williamson’s side. The perennial underdogs had punched way above their weight but fate landed them the most cruel blow in the end. What a success story they scripted all along the journey, silently making their way up, faltering but recovering, guided by the master leadership of the phlegmatic Williamson. It just was not their day. The nice men had to give in to the quirk of fate.