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Cricket World Cup final and Wimbledon: Two of the greatest sporting moments in recent memory

Just a few miles separate the venues that played host to two of the greatest sporting shows in recent memory. Wimbledon’s historic final played out simultaneously with England’s World Cup win. And the world loved it.

Emily Benammar
6 min read
July 15, 2019 - 11:06AM
Artwork for tennis and cricket
Artwork for tennis and cricket

Spare a thought for the thousands of Aussies heading into Monday morning at work on little to no sleep. There’s a legitimate excuse.

Overnight, the world witnessed two of the greatest finals in sporting history.

A historic Wimbledon encounter for the ages and a cricket World Cup decider that will forever be remembered for both it’s absurdity and incredulity.

The two epics played out simultaneously in the small hours of Monday morning despite getting underway Sunday night, and for many will become a “where were you when” moment.

London played host to both events in one of the greatest spectacles the English capital has seen since Super Saturday at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Just 8.7 miles separates Lord’s Cricket Ground and the All England Tennis club. London truly put on one of the greatest and most dramatic sporting shows of all time, holding the attention of every corner of the world for hours.

Channel flicking back and forth, fans were torn between two of the most captivating sporting blockbusters in recent memory, celebrating a change of ends or break between games at Wimbledon to catch a few balls at Lord’s.

Novak Djokovic topples Roger Federer in extraordinary epic five-set Wimbledon final

Cricket World Cup final: Live coverage of England v New Zealand

Ben Stokes buries World T20 demons after leading England to maiden World Cup win

Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in a five-hour Wimb,edon classic
Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in a five-hour Wimb,edon classic

The end of an over signalled time to catch a serve or two at Wimbledon – and so the saga went on – for hours.

Even the social media teams for both events were feeling the enormity of the occasion, Wimbledon tweeting the ICC” “Hello @ICC - how are you coping your end?”

Which received the following reply: Things are a bit hectic here right now, we’ll get back to you ”

Eoin Morgan lifts the World Cup trophy as England's players celebrate their win
Eoin Morgan lifts the World Cup trophy as England's players celebrate their win

An hour after England clinched the trophy, the ICC resumed the conversation: “Right... Couldn’t have been a crazier day for sport in London! What do we suggest people do tomorrow? ”

Others struggled with the pressure of keeping up: “With so much channel flicking and tension I’m confused. Stokes on championship point in Wimbledon while Federer needs to get 23 from 11 remaining balls,” wrote Lewis Jones.

“I’m doing that much channel flicking that Federer is serving deliveries to Stokes

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Streets in London came to a standstill with fans pouring out on the road to keep up to date with the scores. Trafalgar Square had been turned into an outside viewing station with thousands huddled around the live screening of both events.

The deadlock was finally broken as Novak Djokovic claimed a double break against Roger Federer and won the men’s final - three minutes shy of the five-hour mark in a heart-stopping fifth set tie-break.

The end of their duel allowed fans to catch the dying moments at Lord’s as the host nation won their maiden Cricket World Cup in jaw-dropping style, beating New Zealand by a boundary countback after both the super over and 50-over game were tied.

It was nerve-shredding at the home of cricket.

Eoin Morgan’s side finished on 241 all out in pursuit of New Zealand’s 8-241, the final came down to a six-ball shootout for each team.

England’s Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler took 15 off Trent Boult’s over. Jofra Archer bowled England’s over against Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham, who smashed a six off the second ball.

With two runs required off the final ball, wicketkeeper Jos Buttler and Jason Roy combined to run out Guptill as he came back for the second.

Both sides finished on 15 so England won due to a tie-break rule because they hit more boundaries.

Defeat was tough to take for Federer who missed two championship points
Defeat was tough to take for Federer who missed two championship points

“My heart is still racing. It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever won, a great bunch of fellas, a really good family to me,” Archer said.

Stokes was in tears as England’s players danced joyously around the pitch.

“I’m pretty lost for words. All the hard work over four years, to get here and be champions of the world. It’s an amazing feeling. I’m pretty done,” Stokes said with an expression that mixed elation with bewilderment.

“Playing against New Zealand is always a great event. They are a seriously good team and really good lads. I said to Kane Williamson I’ll be apologising for that for the rest of my life.”

Martin Guptill of New Zealand reacts as he is run out on the final
Martin Guptill of New Zealand reacts as he is run out on the final

Meanwhile, a short drive down the road at SW19, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer were simultaneously locked in a thrilling five-set epic for the men’s Wimbledon title in what eventually turned into the competition’s longest ever final.

As England pushed for the super over, Federer was dropping championship points in the 16th game of the deciding set which lasted over two hours.

Three weeks shy of his 38th birthday, few would have bet against the Swiss maestro who was chasing a ninth title at the All England Club and bidding to become the oldest Grand Slam champion.

Enter Djokovic, who, despite being outplayed by the 37-year-old Swiss for large parts of the knife-edge encounter, the world number one triumphed 7-6 (7/5) 1-6 7-6 (7/4) 4-6, 13-12 (7/3).

At four hours and 57 minutes, it was the longest Wimbledon final ever played and settled by a final set tie-break for the first time.

“For now it hurts, and it should, like every loss does here at Wimbledon,” said Federer.

“Definitely tough to have those chances.”

- WITH WIRES

The five moments that won Wimbledon 2019 for Novak Djokovic

By Leo Schlink

Fifth set – 8-7, Roger Federer’s first match point when serving at 40-15: Federer misses wide with an off-forehand.

Fifth set – 8-7, Roger Federer’s second match point serving at 40-30: Federer approaches net behind innocuous forehand. Djokovic rips crosscourt forehand winner.

Fifth set – 8-7, Roger Federer serving at break point down: Federer nets tough forehand to lose serve.

Fifth set – 11-11, Roger Federer receiving at deuce: Wins point on HawkEye challenge after clipping the sideline with a backhand, but can’t convert on the following point despite controlling the rally. It was a virtual match point.

Fifth set tie-break, Roger Federer serving at 1-all: Federer attacks the net behind his serve but shunts a forehand half-volley wide. He never recovered as Djokovic regained control.

RECORD BREAKING SILVERSTONE

And if that wasn’t enough there was also th British Grand Prix just a few hours north of London as well as the Netball World Cup in Liverpool.

On what turned out to be a record day for the England Cricket team had already been one for world champion lewis Hamilton who claimed a record-breaking sixth win at the British Grand Prix.

Success was sealed not with a thrilling overtaking move but by a canny pit stop strategy payingoff for the reigning world champion on Sunday at Silverstone.

By finishing 25 seconds ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, Hamilton extended his championship lead over the Finnto 39 points and moved ahead of Jim Clark and Alain Prost to take the outright record for British GP victories.

Australia's Caitlin Thwaites, left, and Sri Lanka's Chathurangi Jayasooriya
Australia's Caitlin Thwaites, left, and Sri Lanka's Chathurangi Jayasooriya

“I have done so many races and you would think I’d get used to it,” Hamilton said. “But this felt just as amazing as the firstwin I ever had here in 2008.

“This is the greatest single moment for an athlete, to raise their flag as the number one,” Hamilton said. “One day, I will have that picture of me in the car holding the British flag. I will always be able to look at that and smile about it for the rest of my life.”

Continue north of Silverstone and the Diamonds were in action in their third clash of the Netball World Cup, delivering yet another crushing defeat, this time on Sri Lanka.

The 99-24 win was a tournament record score and Australia’s largest margin of the campaign so far.

Australia join England and New Zealand as already confirmed group winners along with South Africa, who beat second-ranked Jamaica to top Group C.

Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe shocked Northern Ireland 51-49 to finish second in Group A.

The Diamonds will now play Malawi on Tuesday.

MEANWHILE IN FRANCE

By Sam Edmund

The biggest win of Daryl Impey’s career has propelled Mitchelton-Scott to its first Tour de France stage triumph in three years.

Impey was too strong for Tiesj Benoot in a two-man sprint into Brioude after 170.5km, prompting an outpouring of emotion at the finish.

An inaugural member of Australia’s first and only WorldTour team, and a sacrificial workhorse for most of the season, Impey’s win was nearly as popular with rivals and as it was teammates.

It was the South African who led out then-teammate Michael Matthews for Mitchelton-Scott’s last Tour success in 2016, while he also piloted Simon Gerrans to glory in 2013.

“It’s the seventh time I’m riding the Tour de France and I’ve been in a number of breakaways. To finally nail it today, it’s a dream come true. I really don’t have any words,” Impey said.

“I’ve been imagining that emotion on the finish line for a long time and to win on Bastille Day, that’s a magic memory.”

Originally published as Cricket World Cup final and Wimbledon: Two of the greatest sporting moments in recent memory

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/tennis/cricket-world-cup-final-and-wimbledon-two-of-the-greatest-sporting-moments-in-recent-memory/news-story/0163b516883e9f3a37a6c5e64ae31c90