THAT LUCKY SIX IN THE FINAL WAS FREAKISH BUT, SO TYPICAL OF THE KIWI BLOKES, NOT ONE OF THEM GRUMBLED ABOUT IT

IN the World Cup final run-chase there was a moment of fortune I would rather not have happened.

I scuffed a full toss on the hip from Trent Boult into a gap. It meant Martin Guptill had work to do to get to the ball, and we had the chance to hare for two.

I just put my head down and ran, in and out of the crease at the Nursery End as quickly as I could.

Not once did I turn to look at him after I had set off, knowing this was going to be tight.

As I sprinted to make the second run, I kept my eyes firmly fixed on Tom Latham, the New Zealand wicketkeeper. I knew it was a good throw and that I would have to get a dive in.

I couldn’t believe it when I felt the ball strike my out-stretched bat on the full. As I looked up, I could see the MCC members in front of the pavilion on their feet, yellow and red ties bouncing up and down, willing it to go for four extra runs.

Part of me was willing it on too, but one thought went through my mind as I rose to my knees: “You’re kidding me.”

As fortunate as it was that it had happened to our advantage, it was definitely not something I’d want to happen in such circumstances. It was such a freakish occurrence.

One of the stories that emerged in the aftermath of the game was that I asked umpire Kumar Dharmasena to overlook the fortuitous four from the deflection and just count the two runs for the stroke. Nice story that, but it’s simply not true.

Remaining on my knees, I held my hands up and apologised to Latham and Kane Williamson. Typical of the blokes they are, there was not one grumble from them.