After working hard prospecting a key customer, the employee got sick. you asked another employee to finalize the deal. Who gets the credit?

I believe the most efforts are done in prospecting and convincing. Closing the deal is just like picking the ripe fruits from the tree. It is those who spent all efforts for a whole year looking after the tree who deserve the credit. Closing the deal should be seen as part of the teamwork.

equality is the best policy

In my opinion it should be the two together because each of them made an effort to complete the transaction. And give it to them together develops and strengthens the sense of cooperation and collaboration between them.

Fifty fifty

both ...................... MOST OF JOB WAS DONE BY THE SICK EMPLOYEE BUT REST OF THE  WORK WAS FINALIZED BY THE2ND ONE ................................   MAKING A SMART MOVE AND BRINGING THE FOOTBALL IN '''  D   AREA '''' is no doubt great one BUT   KICKING THE BALL IN GOAL POLE  IS ANOTHER ART ................................ GOOD DAY SIR

cooperations and sharings are the best team work..with that   they can complete the transaction smoothly without any hesitation ...so both of them can taste the fruit they planted by cooperation,sharing,and selflessness..

share the credits ... both have worked on the issue and both should get the rewards

Credit goes to the team and both individuals !! 

Credit Meaning The Sales Transaction Has To Be Registered  Under Name Of The Employee Who Got Sick . On The Other Hand , Employee Who Finalize The Deal Should Be Appreciated .Rewarding The Employee Who Finalized The Deal With A Small Incentive Will Also Prove A Companies Encouragement & Support For Team Work . So Both The Employee Is Happy Now And Both Deserved The Credit In There Own Way .

All answers just perfect so agree with every body.

i'd like to share a real case scenario, where i was responsible for all arrangements of key event (international speaker Tour) and one day before the event i got injured during football game leads to absence for two weeks where my  Boss & colleague had covered event DAY .. post event,  manager had acknowledge my work in10 words while he gave my colleague a paragraph full of thanks :)

i certainly understand how nervous the manager who had this situation & the stress to close the case in the absence of the accountable person who have all keys & very aware of the full picture, yet i believe he made his acknowledgment in the way not to praise my colleague's good job but to release the stress he felt towards me due to my absence

what i learnd ;

as an Employee: unless you are admitted in a hospital then try to show up & follow the situation even by phone to support your colleagues to get the job done.

as a Manager: overcome your anger & look at the situation from a professional perspective then lead your employee to the proper course of actions in such situation and finally praise your staff at equal % , in business life (closing the deal - Event Day , the show time ... ) is almost equal to the whole pre arrangements