ICC CWC 2019 final: England script history, claim maiden World Cup title
In the grand finale of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 (CWC 19), England cricket team defeated New Zealand cricket team in the Super Over thriller to lift their maiden World Cup title at The Lord’s cricket stadium in London on Sunday.
Batting first after winning the toss, New Zealand had postd 241/8 in 50 overs in reply to which, England ended at the same score leading to the one-over eliminator at the Lord's.
In the Super Over, England batted first and the duo of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler made 15 runs, and New Zealand also ended at the same score but for the loss of one wicket, paving the way for an English victory on boundary count.
It was nothing less than sheer magic as the match kept tilting in the favour of England and New Zealand throughout the final overs, but eventually it was England whose 44-year-long longing ended on a Super Over, that too, on boundary count as England had 22 fours and two sixes compared to 16 by New Zealand.
Earlier, Ben Stokes was England's last hope in taking the team home as England needed 15 runs in the last over, Stokes played two dots and then smoked Boult over deep mid-wicket for six, then got a lucky overthrow while running a double that fetched them six runs --- that was the biggest highlight and that paved that way for England to reach the magic number.
With three needed off two balls, Stokes ran a desperate two but non-striker Adil Rashid was way short of his ground, leaving the hosts to score two runs off the last ball.
Boult kept one full on Stokes' legs and he could only hit towards the long-on and two was never on as the bowler effected an easy run-out under pressure. Stokes was left stranded on 84 as England were all out on 241, paving the way for the first ever Super Over of the World Cup.
Batting first, New Zealand once again put up a modest batting performance under overcast conditions to post 241 for eight as the England pace unit kept on asking probing questions.
Henry Nicholls (55 off 77 balls) and skipper Kane Williamson (30, 53 balls) added 74 runs for the second wicket after a fabulous first spell from Chris Woakes (3/37 in 9 overs) and Jofra Archer (1/42 in 10 overs) on a helpful Lord's track.
While Woakes had the best figures statistically, it was the tall Liam Plunkett (3/42 in 10 overs), who used the cross-seam variations effectively to stop the Black Caps on their tracks.
They would now be hoping that their pace bowlers use the conditions as well as the England bowlers did in the first half.
Only Tom Latham (47 off 56 balls) contributed in the middle overs in another mediocre effort from the New Zealanders on another big day.
Martin Guptill (19 off 18 balls) had started on a positive note but after surviving a caught behind appeal off Archer, he wasn't lucky the second time when Woakes got one to slightly shape in and he was caught plumb in-front.
Williamson and Nicholls, just like the India game, were trying to preserve their wicket with occasional boundaries. They were steady during their 16.2 over stand without being spectacular.
It was Plunkett, who got the all important wicket of Williamson when the New Zealand skipper tried to play away from his body and the nick was snapped by Buttler.
Plunkett then removed another set batsman Nicholls with a cross seam delivery that had the left-hander playing on while shaping up for a big shot.
England had a shaky start with Roy, Root, Bairtow and Morgan back into the pavilion before England reached 100-run mark. Jos Buttler (59) and Ben Stokes (84 not out) helped England fight back and almost reached till the end but Lockie Ferguson, James Neesham dashed their hopes with quick wickets at the death.
Needinf two runs off the final ball, Ben Stokes ran for a couple but his partner and last batsman for England, Mark Wood could not scale the distance and got run out, with England ending 241-all out in 50 overs, that set the stage for Super Over Clash.
Brief scores: New Zealand: 241/8 in 50 overs (Henry Nicholls 55, Tom Latham 47; Liam Plunkett 3/42, Woakes 3/37); England: 241 all out in 50 overs (Ben Stokes 84*, Jos Buttler 59; Lockie Ferguson 3/50)
