Hope turned to heartbreak in an instant for West Indies batsman Carlos Brathwaite on Sunday morning (NZ time), as his jaw-dropping blitz to what had seemed an unlikely win over the Blackcaps was snuffed out by a brilliant boundary catch by Trent Boult.
The devastation was clear to see as Brathwaite dropped to his knees in anguish, and the Blackcaps players - true to form - were quickly on hand to offer gestures of consolation, reaffirming their reputation as some of international cricket's best and fairest.
Batsman Ross Taylor was first on the scene, leaning down to check on the crestfallen Barbados native in a moment that inspired memories of the 2015 World Cup semi-final, when Grant Elliot offered a helping hand to deflated Proteas quick Dale Steyn after he'd delivered the winning six.
"We're all professional cricketers and you get in those situations and probably deserve to win," Taylor said. "He batted outstandingly and got his team out of a tough situation and you've got to feel for him.
"From our team's point of view we were elated and a lot of people stood up at different times, but you're human as well and you've got to feel sorry for him.
"He did a fantastic job and we all just said 'congratulations on a great knock and keep your head held high, you did yourself and your country very proud'."
With the game slipping away at 164/7 in their pursuit of NZ's 291, Brathwaite blasted 101 off 82 balls to reduce the winning equation to just six runs from the final seven deliveries, before Boult swooped to pluck another six out of the sky to ensure NZ's undefeated record remained intact.
"I wouldn't say it's a small boundary but he was clearing it by a significant margin. If anything we had to go short at him and hope one went up high.
"In the end it was a very well executed ball by Jimmy [Neesham] but also a very good catch by Boulty. Only a couple of centimetres and it could have been a different result."
Brathwaite was full of praise for the Blackcaps for both their performance on the pitch and their grace in victory at Old Trafford, referring to Kiwis as "some of the best people in the world".
"I've been fortunate to share a dressing room or play against and socialise with them in franchise tournaments," he said.
"So, I'm good friends with a few of the boys, and it didn't mean much at that point in time, because I had just seen Boult take a catch and us losing, but in hindsight, it's good sportsmanship on their behalf and I appreciated the mutual respect the opposition had."
Having already played a major hand in the innings with a four-wicket haul for just 30 runs, the Kiwi quick himself admitted he was feeling the pressure as he sprinted around the long-on boundary rope.
"Nerve-wracking, no doubt about it," said Boult. "Carlos [Brathwaite] played extremely well for 101 and he'll be hurting."
The win - highlighted by captain Kane Williamson's masterful 148 - boosts New Zealand to the top of the World Cup standings above Australia and India, who have a game in hand.
They face Pakistan next on Wednesday night at Edgbaston.
Newshub.
Join us for live updates of New Zealand v Pakistan from 9:30pm Wednesday
