On this day (July 14) in 2019, England won their first-ever title in the 50-over format by defeating New Zealand in the ODI World Cup final. Take a look at the most dramatic cricket matches in the history of cricket and this battle at Lord’s will be right at the top.
“England have won the World Cup by the barest of all margins. Agony, agony for New Zealand,” Ian Smith’s iconic commentary lines after Eoin Morgan and Co’s thrilling Super Over win will always ring in the ears of cricket fans.
Batting first, the Black Caps posted 241-8 on the back of Henry Nicholls’s half-century and a collective effort from the rest. Batting in reply, England got off to a worst start as they lost opener Jason Roy early on. They were reduced to 86-4 in the 24th over and the game looked to be slipping away from the hosts. However, a nearly 200-run partnership between Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes brought them back into the game before the drama unfolded at the iconic venue.
The Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson got rid of Buttler in the 45th over and suddenly England started to feel the pressure. However, Stokes hung on at one end with an unbeaten 84 off 98 and pushed the game into the Super Over. Needing two runs off the final ball of the innings, England managed to take only a single as Mark Wood was run out trying for the second run.
Stokes and Buttler came out to bat for England in the Super Over and the duo scored 15 runs. Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham were the batters for New Zealand. Neesham scored 14 off the first five balls and rotated the strike to his partner for the final ball when two runs were needed. The super-over ended in a tie as Guptill was unable to reach the crease to complete the double.
Eventually, England were decided as the winner based on the number of boundaries. The ‘boundary count rule’ sparked a massive controversy as New Zealand were unfortunate not to win the title. Not to forget, England also got four runs luckily when a throw hit Stokes’ bat and deflected towards the boundary for four runs in the final over.