Relays have provided a stream of comic and tragic moments over the last two days. But nothing as upsetting for the hosts as the moment that killed their great hopes in the men's 1500m.

It was meant to be the race of the night, all set up to be a battle between New Zealand's Nick Willis and the Australian favourite Craig Mottram, with England's Nick McCormick an outsider. But it was another England athlete who was at the centre of night's great theatre.

Willis won, giving his country its first major success at this event since the great days of John Walker, the 1976 Olympic champion. But he couldn't have done so in more dramatic circumstances.

Approaching 800m, with McCormick leading and Willis in second, Andrew Baddeley was on Mottram's shoulder when he was caught from behind and fell headlong into the back of Mottram's legs. Both came crashing to the track, their medal hopes dashed.

Willis took up the pace immediately, stretching the field and opening a gap between the leaders and Mottram that the Australian could never make up. Willis went on to win in 3:38.49 with Canada's Nathan Brannen benefiting from the tumbles to take silver in 3:39.20 and Australia's Mark Fountain dipping in for bronze in 3:39.33.

"I can't believe they didn't pass me," said the astonished Willis.

"All I remember is someone taking my legs away," explained Baddeley later. "I went down and took Craig out with me, and I feel bad about that."

Not as bad as Mottram, most probably. The packed MCG was baying for another home track win to finish their Games. "To finish the Commonwealth Games like that is frustrating," said Mottram. "I'm disappointed but you've got to move on.

"That's the highs and lows of sport, I guess. I'm pretty annoyed about it but I've got to take the positives out of the week."