A tense chase, a bat of god, a tie, a Super Over – and just when we thought the World Cup final couldn’t get more exciting, the England Vs New Zealand match proved us wrong. Exactly a year ago today, on July 14, England and New Zealand were involved in what many call as world’s greatest ODI of all time as they fought tooth and nail for the World Cup glory.
Dramatic would be an understatement for the way England vs New Zealand final ended. The Englishmen won the 2019 World Cup on the basis of boundary count after everything else failed to distinguish the two teams.
It all boiled down to the last over of England’s chase. As Ben Stokes marched towards his half-century, he was the hope of 60 million people across the country. After Trent Boult dropped Stokes at the deep, a catch that he would’ve blindly taken, Stokes pushed the match into the final over, off which 15 were needed.
Boult started with two dots before the England all-rounder smashed a six, bringing England near to the victory. An overthrow from Martin Guptill that went off a diving Ben Stokes’ bat and went for a four. New Zealand and Kane Williamson were absolutely numb.
With two needed off the last ball, Mark Wood was run-out at the non-striker’s end, leaving the two scores alike. Which means Super Over! Stokes and Jos Buttler hit a boundary each leaving New Zealand 16 to get. James Neesham smacked a six off Jofra Archer and brought the equation down to two needed off one.
Guptill ran for his life, but inches before he would cross the line, Buttler took off the bails, triggering euphoria. Guptill was on the ground. Archer and Morgan were running across the Lord’s cricket ground. History was made. There was nothing to pick between the two sides but England (26), on the basis of a higher boundary count were declared winners against New Zealand (17).
Brief scores: England 241 in 50 overs (Ben Stokes 84*, Jos Buttler 59; Lockie Ferguson 3/50) tied with Black Caps 241/8 (Henry Nicholls 55; Chris Woakes 3-37, Liam Plunkett 3/42). The hosts won in the one-over eliminator on boundary count
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64729275/1162173852.jpg.0.jpg "England Vs New Zealand 2019 World Cup Final: This Day, Last Year")
No matter how much theory you apply in here, all we have to conclude here is – the two teams played exceptionally well and the luck was a little in favour of the Englishmen. Name a better nail-biting cricket match that’ll make you jump from your couches in every single over. We’ll wait.
Meanwhile, if you wish to relive the epic England vs New Zealand 2019 World Cup final, here it is.
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