Auckland: New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham hit a six in the ICC World Cup 2019 final’s Super Over and during those heartbreaking six balls at Lord’s on Sunday (July 14), his high school coach passed away.

Neesham’s school coach David Gordon breathed his last during the Super Over of the World Cup 2019 final. It was an epic final where both the actual match and the Super Over ended in ties. England eventually were declared champions on better boundary count.

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This rule by the International Cricket Council (ICC) led to a massive outrage on social media. However, the Kiwis were graceful in defeat with captain Kane Williamson earning plaudits for the way he reacted following the summit clash.

"One of the nurses came in for the final over, the super over, and she said his breathing is changing. You know, I think Jimmy Neesham had just hit that six and he took his last breath," Leonie Gordon, coach David’s daughter was quoted as saying in stuff.co.nz website.

Also read: England take World Cup trophy after final, Super Over tied

"He has a quirky sense of humour and he was a real character and he would have loved the fact that he did that," she added.

Neesham paid tribute to his coach via the micro-blogging site Twitter. “Dave Gordon, my High School teacher, coach and friend. Your love of this game was infectious, especially for those of us lucky enough to play under you. How appropriate you held on until just after such a match. Hope you were proud. Thanks for everything. RIP,” the left-hander wrote on his Twitter handle.

“The dedicated teacher and cricket coach went into heart failure five weeks ago, with both his daughters and their families coming home from Italy and San Francisco, knowing they had little time with him left.

“The family joked to him that he was sticking around for the Cricket World Cup to see the Black Caps win,” the website said.