Cricket World Cup: Ardern 'traumatised' by New Zealand defeat

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Ms Ardern said she was “incredibly proud” of her nation's performance in the Cricket World Cup

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joked that she has been “traumatised” by her country's Cricket World Cup defeat after they lost a nail-biting final to England.

But she told news outlet RNZ that she was “incredibly proud” of the team.

On social media many said New Zealand's Black Caps had lost the game but “won our hearts”.

New Zealand lost on a technical boundary rule, giving England their first ever Cricket World Cup title.

“I think probably like a lot of New Zealanders I'm still feeling quite traumatised by that match,” Ms Ardern told Radio New Zealand.

“But regardless of that final outcome I just feel incredibly proud of the Black Caps, and I hope every New Zealander does because they played remarkable cricket.”

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In an Instagram post, Ms Ardern sent her congratulations to England, adding: “I think as a nation we all aged a year in that super over.”

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That was undeniably an incredible game. I think as a nation we all aged a year in that super over. Congratulations to England. And to the Black Caps, I feel nothing but pride. What a team.

A post shared by Jacinda Ardern (@jacindaardern) on Jul 14, 2019 at 11:46am PDT

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Even the Royal Family's Twitter account quoted the Queen as saying “New Zealand... competed so admirably throughout the tournament”.

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The Queen: “I also extend my commiserations to the runners-up New Zealand, who competed so admirably in todays contest and throughout the tournament.” (2/2) #CricketWorldCup

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) July 14, 2019

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The match on Sunday was New Zealand's second successive defeat in a Cricket World Cup final. The team also lost to Australia in 2015.

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New Zealand suffered a dramatic defeat on Sunday

But despite their loss, many praised the players for showing true “sportsman spirit”.

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Name a captain apart from Kane Williamson and a team apart from New Zealand that would have taken this defeat and specially that boundary of that bat so gracefully. NZ cricket team is the epitome of sportsman spirit.

— Danish (@Thenish_) July 14, 2019

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Kane Williamson is smiling. He's a captain of a cricket team which has just lost a world cup final in the most unlikeliest of the ways. And he's smiling. Is this guy even real man. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. What a guy man. I mean hats off buddy. You're a gem #CWC19Final pic.twitter.com/2rkMsfivcL

— Saurabh (@Boomrah_) July 14, 2019

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Sometimes life is unfair, so is cricket. Feel sad for New Zealand. Of course, the World Cup eluded them, but they won the hearts of the millions of cricketing fans, the world over. https://t.co/K2uDzkswm4

— Dakshinamurthy (@murthymalladi) July 15, 2019

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Black Caps player Jimmy Neesham tweeted after the game jokingly advising children not to take up cricket.

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Kids, dont take up sport. Take up baking or something. Die at 60 really fat and happy.

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) July 15, 2019

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He also apologised to New Zealand fans, saying he was “sorry we couldn't deliver what you so badly wanted”.

Ms Ardern told local media discussions were under way about the best way to welcome the players back home.

“They'll be getting a heroes' welcome,” she said. “They deserve it”.