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It was Jimmy Neesham who became the symbol of New Zealand’s dignified response to the heartbreak of losing the 2019 World Cup final ‘by the barest of all margins’, as commentator Ian Smith so memorably put it.
Neesham, the ultimate good guy among a New Zealand side full of good guys, took to Twitter late on the night of that epic finale to offer the following advice: ‘Kids, don’t take up sport. Take up baking or something. Die at 60 really fat and happy.’
He would have been excused a self-pitying rather than humorous post. After all, Neesham did more than anybody to tip that nail-biting encounter New Zealand’s way by taking three wickets and then producing the last-ball run out to leave the final tied.
Just for good measure the all-rounder smashed 13 off five balls, including a massive six off Jofra Archer, after being entrusted with the bat in the super over, only to be left helpless at the non- striker’s end for the final ball as Martin Guptill was run out.
New Zealand will either play Pakistan or Australia in the final of the T20 World Cup on Sunday
A late flurry of sixes from Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham (pictured) inspired New Zealand
Neesham took to social media again last night, with his reaction to yesterday’s thriller, to post a picture of his side jumping for joy at the moment of victory with just him sitting calmly, along with the words: ‘Job done? I don’t think so.’
It was a professional response this time to sum up a spectacular reversal of fortunes.
For how New Zealand richly deserved a victory that takes them to within one game of their first-ever World Cup triumph in either 50 or 20-over cricket after 11 semi-finals. And how Neesham
