New Zealand allrounder reflects on heartbreak of Lord’s final after watching dramatic T20 World Cup clash

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

Watching South Africa and Afghanistan contest two Super Overs in their dramatic T20 World Cup encounter, James Neesham couldn’t help but think back to one of the most painful moments of his career.

“It’s good now that you get the opportunity to play a second Super Over when the first one’s a tie,” Neesham said after Saturday night’s match between New Zealand and South Africa in Ahmedabad. “That would have been nice…”

The reference was unmistakable. Neesham was part of the New Zealand side that tied the 2019 ODI World Cup final, only for the subsequent Super Over to also end level, with England controversially crowned champions over New Zealand on boundary count. In the aftermath, Neesham famously vented his frustration on X, joking: “Kids, don’t take up sport. Take up baking or something. Die at 60 really fat and happy.”

Despite that heartbreak, Neesham has since featured in another ODI World Cup and two T20 World Cups, including the current edition, and admitted it was far more enjoyable to watch such drama as a neutral.

“That’s why these tournaments are so good – crunch moments like that,” he said. “We’ve already seen several games go right down to the wire, and they have real ramifications for the rest of the tournament.”

The Afghanistan-South Africa thriller was one such contest. “We were travelling here, waiting to leave for the airport, and everyone was around the TV in the hotel, delaying the bus,” Neesham said. “It was pretty cool to watch. Hopefully there are more games like that.”

So far, New Zealand’s own campaign has been relatively straightforward. They have recorded comfortable wins over Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates, before losing by seven wickets to South Africa. Still well placed to reach the Super Eights, they will look to secure qualification when they face Canada on Tuesday in Chennai.