LONDON, (Reuters) – England ended their 44-year wait for a maiden 50-overs World Cup title by beating a gutsy New Zealand side on boundaries after a tied Super Over amidst heart-stopping drama today.
Chasing 242 for victory, Ben Stokes’ scintillating 84 not out helped the hosts tie the see-saw contest, forcing the Super Over where more nail-biting excitement unfolded.
Buttler and Stokes took 15 runs off Trent Boult’s Super Over without losing their wickets.
New Zealand also scored 15 runs off Jofra Archer’s over but England won on boundary count, triggering wild celebrations at Lord’s as the hosts capped a stunning turnaround.
Since being unceremoniously dumped out of the 2015 edition of the marquee tournament in Australia, Eoin Morgan’s England side have reinvented themselves as a white-ball juggernaut, heading into this World Cup as overwhelming favourites.
Back-to-back defeats by Sri Lanka and Australia in the group stage helped England rediscover the attacking brand of fearless cricket which has been the hallmark of the current team.
They dismantled India and New Zealand to storm into the semi-finals, where they crushed Australia with another ruthless display of all-round excellence.
Sunday’s final, England’s first since 1992, pitted them against a New Zealand team chasing their own slice of history after spending decades as the tournament’s bridesmaids.
Morgan lost an important toss, but Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes led England’s controlled bowling display to restrict New Zealand to 241 for eight on a two-paced wicket.
Henry Nicholls made 55 and Tom Latham chipped in with 47 but lack of significant partnerships hurt New Zealand, who eventually settled for a below-par total.
Nicholls and Williamson put on 74 runs to bolster the New Zealand innings but Plunkett’s two-wicket, cross-seam masterclass took the wind out of their sails.
Plunkett dismissed both batsmen just when the partnership was looking dangerous and he eventually finished with 3-42.
Woakes claimed three as well, including the wicket of Latham just when the batsman was looking poised to provide the late charge that could have taken New Zealand past the 250-mark.
New Zealand’s new ball pair of Trent Boult and Matt Henry returned determined not to let it become a cakewalk for the hosts.
Henry dismissed the in-form Jason Roy for 10 and Colin de Grandhomme put a struggling Joe Root (7) out of his misery.
England could have been in a bigger hole had de Grandhomme not dropped a waist-high return catch from Bairstow, then on 18.
England were gasping on 86-4 when Stokes was joined by Buttler for a 110-run stand to revive the chase and tie the scores, producing one of the most thrilling matches in the history of the game.
Reaction after England beat New Zealand on number of boundaries hit in the Cricket World Cup final on Sunday. The match and a Super Over both ended in ties.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes who was named man of the match:
“It feels pretty good – I am lost for words to be honest. So much hard work has gone in, this is what we aspire to be. I don’t think there will ever be a better game in cricket than that. “I have apologised countless times for that fluke, it’s not how you want to get them. There was no chance I wasn’t going to bat in that Super Over.”
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson:
“It certainly wasn’t for one extra run, there are so many parts in that match that could have gone either way.
“Congratulations to England, they had a fantastic campaign and deserve their victory.
“It’s been challenging, the pitches have been different. There was a lot of talk of 300+ scores but there hasn’t been much of that. We have showed heart and fight to get to this stage and a tie in the final – it wasn’t meant to be.
“The guys are shattered. It’s devastating. Tough to swallow.”
England batsman Jonny Bairstow:
“One hell of a game, it edged both ways and the way the guys came out in the super over was huge. We bowled well to be honest with you and they put us under a lot of pressure.
“It was tough. The way that Stokesy and Jos put that partnerhship together, that won us the game.
“What a spectacle! What an atmosphere. To play a World Cup final in front of friends and families, it was huge. Difficult to put into words.”
England fast bowler Jofra Archer:
“I was pretty sure I was going to bowl it (the Super Over), my heart is still racing. It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever won.”
England fast bowler Chris Woakes:
“I am lost for words. I can’t believe what has happened. I can’t get my head around it. I thought it was gone needing 30 off 16. It has probably been the best day for cricket in this country.
“I feel like everything that has happened today is destiny.”
England batsman Joe Root:
“Wow! It’s hard to sum it up. What a day, what a tournament. Everyone has done everything asked of them. We have performed under pressure, it was almost written in the stars for Ben Stokes.
“He’s had such a tough time, I’m so proud of him and pleased for him and his family.”
New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham:
“We knew we would have to fire a few shots. Credit to England for the way they stuck at it. On another day the coin may have fallen our way. We’ll look back in a couple of years and say this was a pretty good experience.
“That’s the way we are as Kiwis, we get par scores and then scrap like hell. We don’t blast teams off the park.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan:
“I can’t believe what we have just witnessed. The emotions of what we’ve been through on air… wow, but what about the players?! They gave it absolutely everything.”
