Cricket World Cup: Auckland Hearts player collects match-winning ball

Who's got THAT ball? Lucille Matthews and two friends with her prized trophy.

Grant Elliott smashed a piece of cricketing history straight into the hands of another cricketer at Eden Park - Auckland Hearts' allrounder Lucille Matthews.

After the euphoria that erupted with Elliott's six in the World Cup semifinal, organisers discovered the ball was unaccounted for.

But a photo of Miss Matthews and two friends was yesterday tweeted showing them with their match souvenir, with the words: "Whose [sic] got the match ball, we do!!"

Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum was asked if he would like to see it returned to Elliott. "Sure. I don't know where it is. Don't know if anyone who was watching the game knows where it is."

However, the Herald understands that Black Caps management were yesterday in negotiations with Miss Matthews to secure the ball's return.

ICC Cricket World Cup media manager Philip Clark confirmed it was missing.

Miss Matthews was not legally bound to return the ball to Elliott, the ICC or Black Caps.

"We're not encouraging or insisting that anyone do anything," Mr Clark said.

"This person has got a piece of sporting history and I think that if that was me, I would be stoked to have it and at some point today or over the next few years, you might have to ask yourself if the best place for it is on the mantelpiece of the pool room or with Grant Elliott, and that's entirely up to them."