ICC World Cup 2019: Overjoyed For Ben But I Am Still A New Zealand Supporter - Stokes' Father

It was not easy to be in the shoes of Ben Stokes‘ father when the final of the World Cup went down to the wire. One team had to win and the other had to face the heartbreak. In the end, England was able to get over the line as they had scored more boundaries than the Kiwis. England scored 26 boundaries whereas New Zealand scored 17 boundaries.

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Subsequently, Ben Stokes’ father Gerard said he was overjoyed for his son but he is still a New Zealand supporter. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes was brilliant in the final against the country of his birth, New Zealand. Stokes scored a fine knock of 84 runs from 98 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes to help England level the score with New Zealand. Furthermore, Stokes got crucial runs in the Super Over.

It wasn’t to be for New Zealand.

“I really am disappointed for the Black Caps; it’s such a shame someone had to walk away without the trophy. Hand on heart, I am overjoyed for Ben and the team, but I am still a New Zealand supporter,” Gerard told 1Newsnow.

The southpaw batsman had a fine World Cup as he scored 465 runs at an average of 66.43. Moreover, he scalped seven wickets in the 11 matches of the tournament.

“[A draw] would’ve been nice but there’s always got to be a winner in a World Cup,” he told Newstalk ZB.

“The way that Ben batted was a tribute to both teams in the way that they tried so hard to win that cup. He was over the moon being a part of that match and also have an influence on the result as well … the way he played epitomized both teams I think.”

New Zealand didn’t have the rub of the green on their side and it was a heartbreak for them. Meanwhile, the Stokes family had moved to England when Ben Stokes was only 12 years of age. Subsequently, Stokes developed his interest in the game and he has come a long way.

“At the end of the game I cried my eyes out,” Stokes’ mother said. “I was really disappointed for the Black Caps because they had given so much as well, it would have been great if it could have been a draw.”

Stokes had conceded four sixes to Carlos Brathwaite in the 2016 T20I World Cup. However, he delivered the goods in the final of the World Cup as he was awarded the Player of the match.

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