[Relive] England Beat New Zealand By Barest Of Margins To Lift World Cup 2019
The 2019 World Cup final was filled with drama thrills galore (Twitter)
On this day, four years ago, the cradle of cricket - Lord's Cricket Ground played host to an epic battle that inscribed itself in cricketing legend. Two powerhouses, England, and New Zealand with illustrious cricketing history, yet both lacking a World Cup win, found themselves on the threshold of glory.
Four years since the 2019 World Cup Final - A game of thrills and spills
Led by the calm and composed Kane Williamson, New Zealand posted 241, a score that appeared modest on paper. Yet, the sternest of cricketing experts would have known better than to prematurely celebrate or mourn. The unpredictable English weather along with the complexities of the pitch tilted the game towards a nail-biting equilibrium.
Captained by Irish-born Eoin Morgan, England began their chase under the spectre of immense pressure. As wickets tumbled, hearts sank, but the relentless spirit of English cricket was embodied in Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler.
Their partnership was a mix of caution and aggression like a dance on the razor's edge, carefully navigating the storm stirred by New Zealand's disciplined bowling. The climax approached with England requiring 15 runs from the last over.
Stokes, the fulcrum of England's fightback, produced a spectacle that was part skill, part courage, and a touch of fortune. The penultimate ball of the over saw a frenetic scramble for two runs.
The southpaw accidentally deflected the ball which raced to the boundary, resulting in six runs in total - two ran and a controversial four awarded as overthrows. This stroke of luck pushed the game into a Super Over.
The Super Over saw both teams locked in a gladiatorial contest with England and New Zealand scoring 15 runs each. Yet, even this dramatic extension of the match failed to separate the two teams. It took the boundary count-back rule, a fine print rarely invoked to finally end the deadlock.
Having hit more boundaries during the match and the Super Over, England were crowned the champions, as Lord's erupted in euphoria. While the boundary count rule proved controversial, there was universal agreement on the unforgettable drama this iconic match provided.
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