The star performer of the Cricket World Cup final was neither leading run-scorer Ben Stokes nor Jos Buttler, who claimed the final wicket, or even James Neesham, who hit 13 runs in the nail-biting super over.
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But it was a Kiwi.
Aged 62 and carrying a few too many kilos he may be, but Ian David Stockley Smith produced a performance the equal of anything he managed during 12 years as New Zealand's Test wicket-keeper.
Perched high up in the uniquely-shaped Lord's pressbox, Smith had been in fine form throughout the tournament but saved his best for the showpiece.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
A member of the International Cricket Council's official commentary team, Smith had spent much of the group stages casually identifying random New Zealanders in the crowd, explaining to Michael Atherton that there's only a few million of them so if you stick around long enough you get to know most eventually.
But in Sunday's final against England, Smith's blind patriotism began to rival the likes of Ian Healy and even drift dangerously toward Shane Warne territory.
When there was an element of doubt as to whether Lockie Ferguson had cleanly caught Eoin Morgan in the deep, the third umpire intervened and confirmed the dismissal in customary fashion by flashing: "Out" on the stadium big screen.
"It's that magic three-letter word again," said a delighted Smith. "If you love cricket, you never get sick of watching this."
When the first delivery of England's part-West Indian, part-Tasmanian pace bowler Jofra Archer's super over was called a wide, there was something of a difference of opinion between Smith and WIndies great Ian Bishop behind the mike.
"That's surely a wide, yes it is," Smith declared.
"Depends on who you ask really," argued Bish. "It hit the line."
"I'm not asking, yes it is," ruled Smith. "Read the book."
The Bill and Tony niggling act was truly working its backside off.
As the super over reached its climax, poor old Smithy was sounding as exhausted as Ben Stokes.
After seven weeks of competition, the tournament's two best teams had both scored 241 in 50 overs and were on their way to 15 each in an extra one when Nasser Hussain told his Kiwi friend: "They are one hit away from winning the World Cup."
"They are," said Smith, who by this stage had started talking to himself. "One hit away from winning the World Cup! Can you believe this? No."
Instead, as Martin Guptill attempted to sprint back for a second run and Buttler whipped off the bails, at 7.30pm and 23 seconds local time, the Lord's scoreboard produced the fateful word ... "Emirates".
Closely followed by "Out".
Smithy lost it.
"He's got it! England have won the World Cup by the barest of margins, by the barest of all margins. Absolute ecstasy for England. Agony, agony for New Zealand. Wow! It's all yours Nasser. It's your cup."
A commendably composed Hussain perfectly summed up the moment: "New Zealand might have lost the game but cricket has definitely been the winner here."
He was right. The numerous subplots of the final and indeed entire tournament had been so far-fetched as to test the bounds of believability.
Who would have thought a player called De Grandhomme would emerge as the big man? Except French speakers maybe.
Who would have predicted that New Zealand's fate would be sealed by an "England" all-rounder born in Christchurch?
Who would have thought that New Zealand would even reach the final having stumbled into the last four to face a top-ranked cricket-mad nation with a population 270 times more than their own?
And who would have thought that such enjoyment could come from a commentary team featuring two of the most annoying people to be allowed near a microphone?
If your name is Michael and you were a right-handed batsman and part-time bowler who grew up in and played cricket for NSW then Australia after which you became a television commentator and you enjoy laughing at your own jokes, then your surname is probably Slater or Clarke.
Both plunged new depths of irritability through this tournament while Clarke criticising Steve Smith for not promoting himself to come in at three when he is clearly Australia's best batsman was a staggering case of a pot-shaped cooking implement informing its kettle companion that it was looking a little blackish.
Fortunately, the New Zealanders were on hand to save the day.
They may not have won the final, but they were masters of the airwaves.
Four years after squaring up to Clarke as opposing captains in the last final, Brendon McCullum joined him in the commentary team and, like Smithy, also brought his fair share of Kiwi humour and honesty to the team.
When Atherton pondered aloud what the odds may have been on New Zealand winning both the cricket and rugby world cups, renowned punter McCullum instantly replied: "25-1."
Meanwhile on a day when southern England was playing host to the Cricket World Cup final, Wimbledon men's final and the British Grand Prix and assorted celebrities couldn't decide which one to be seen at, Sky News demonstrated a questionable grasp of geography by switching between the first and second of those with the segue: "Meanwhile, over the road at Lord's ..."
That road would be 11 kilometres wide.
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