Although the decision sparked controversy, England etched their name in history as World Cup champions for the first time. (Image: @ICC Cricket World Cup/X, formerly Twitter)
New Zealand scored 241 for eight, and England, led by Ben Stokes’ unbeaten 84, matched that score, resulting in a tie. The match remained tied after the Super Over too, but England won based on the boundary count rule.
The final of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup stands out as the most dramatic clash in the history of 50-over cricket. On July 14, 2019, at the iconic Lord’s, a new world champion was crowned as England claimed their first-ever World Cup title in a thrilling encounter.
Under the leadership of Eoin Morgan, England had to rely on the boundary count to secure the trophy after a nail-biting Super Over could not separate them from New Zealand.
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Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bat first, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown. The Kiwis faced an early setback when opener Martin Guptill was dismissed for 19. However, Williamson and Henry Nicholls steadied the innings, with Nicholls scoring a vital 55 off 77 balls.
After Williamson was out for 30, the middle order struggled, with only Tom Latham providing resistance. Latham contributed a crucial 47 from 56 balls. Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett took three wickets each, limiting New Zealand to 241 runs from their 50 overs.
England’s chase got off to a rocky start, losing their captain Morgan and slipping to 86 for 4. Jonny Bairstow was the standout performer with 36 runs off 55 balls.
Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler revived England’s hopes with a 110-run partnership until Buttler was dismissed for 59 by Lockie Ferguson. The lower order faltered against the bowling of Ferguson and James Neesham.
Despite the turmoil, Stokes remained composed and guided England close to victory. With two runs needed from the final ball, Stokes managed only a single, resulting in the match ending in a tie—a first in World Cup history. The Super Over also ended in a tie, with both teams scoring 15 runs each.
In a dramatic twist, England was declared the winner based on their superior boundary count. Although the decision sparked controversy, England etched their name in history as World Cup champions for the first time.
