by Roger Childs

Has London ever had so much sporting excitement on one day in two legendary sporting venues across the city? Two major international contests came to a climax and they couldn’t have been closer. At the famous home of cricket, the Lords ground, the World Cup Cricket final between New Zealand and England ended in a tie with both side on 241 and required a “super over”.

The home team scrapped home on a count-back — as going for the winning run Guptill was run out: heartbreak for the Black Caps and overwhelming joy for the English.  The visitors could consider themselves unlucky as they only lost 8 wickets compare to England losing 10. However, the rules state that in the event of a tie there is count back on the number of boundaries scored.

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Meanwhile across town at Wimbledon, two of the greatest players ever to lift a racket – Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer battled it out in the gentleman’s singles final. It was a classic five setter worthy of the occasion with a tie break required, not at the usual 6-6 but as 12-12. Federer had two match points at 8-7 in the fifth set, but Djokovic fought back to level at 8-8. In the end, after more than five hours, he prevailed in what commentators and media are calling the most exciting match of all time – 7-6, 1-6 7-6, 4-6, 13-12.

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