New Zealand players Jesse Tashkoff and Joey Field proved good Samaritans on Wednesday when they helped ease a double dose of pain suffered by West Indies batsman Kirk McKenzie in their U-19 World Cup quarter-final.
McKenzie had the misfortune to have to retire hurt on 99 not out after suffering leg cramps, but courageously decided to return to face the final 14 deliveries of the innings after West Indies had lost their ninth wicket.
VIDEO: Kind courtesy, Cricket World Cup/Twitter
After struggling to hobble back to the middle, however, he was dismissed first ball -- still one short of his century.
Cue the intervention of the sportsmanlike Kiwi duo, who carried the badly-cramped McKenzie off the field while being applauded back to the pavilion by the fans at Benoni's Willowmoore Park in South Africa.
"An outstanding show of sportsmanship earlier today in the game between West Indies and New Zealand," Cricket World Cup tweeted.
McKenzie's misery was compounded when New Zealand, in a seemingly hopeless position at 153-8, amazingly chased down their target of 239 with Field and Kristian Clarke compiling a ninth-wicket stand of 86 to eke out a two-wicket win.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif hailed New Zealand's spirit of cricket gesture. "Mastery begins with humility. The legacy being so beautifully carried forward by the next generation of New Zealand stars. There is a reason why they are the most loved team of our times #SpiritOfCricket," Kaif tweeted.
Batsman Rohit Sharma also hailed the gesture, saying: "So good to see this #SpiritOfCricket at its best".
