Masterton man Ed Wallace [foreground, right] signalling a four at the Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s. At left in the beige shirt is former Wairarapa man Jeremy Anderson. PHOTO/SCREEN GRAB
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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The drama of Sunday’s World Cup final at Lord’s is something that one Masterton man will never forget.
Ed Wallace is on holiday in Devon with his wife Clarissa’s family. He went to London for the final, which he watched with a former Wairarapa man, Jeremy Anderson.
Their support for the Balck caps was regularly captured during the live telecast.
Anderson is a former Wairarapa cricket representative and the brother of Wairarapa cricket rep and Wairarapa-Bush rugby player Robbie Anderson.
Wallace said it was a weird feeling at the end when England was awarded the World Cup.
The teams were deadlocked at the end of the match and even a Super Over tiebreak failed to separate them.
England were awarded the cup because they had scored more boundaries in the final.
“I can’t really describe the feeling at the end, just like any other Kiwi watching either back in NZ or at the match. ‘Robbed’, I guess is one word I think of.”
Wallace said the ending was in total contrast to most of the match.
“The atmosphere was rather quiet throughout the first innings.
“At the break, all the Poms were oozing with confidence.
“They were all saying we needed 300-plus, and some said it would be over in 30 overs.
“As the game got tenser, the atmosphere became electric.”
He said the home fans were very gracious at the end and with the overthrows off Ben Stokes’ bat.
“I was very, very lucky to be there. It’s something I’ll never forget, and a massive thanks to the missus for the leave pass.”
