England wins World Cup in Super Over after incredible tie with New Zealand
LONDON (Reuters) – England won the Cricket World Cup for the first time after New Zealand matched its 15 in a Super Over, but lost on fewer boundaries scored in the match after an extraordinary final at Lord’s was tied on Sunday.
“I am lost for words,” said England fast bowler Chris Woakes. “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 was all out for 241 on the last ball of the 50th over, chasing New Zealand’s 241 for eight.
England scored 14 in the last over, but Mark Wood was run out seeking the second run that would have won it for the host side.
Ben Stokes, who finished on 84 not out, came back for the Super Over with Jos Buttler amid scenes never before seen at the home of cricket.
New Zealand needed two off the last ball of Jofra Archer’s over, but Martin Guptill was run out coming back for the second run and England triumphed due to hitting more boundaries on the day.
“We knew we would have to fire a few shots,” said New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham. “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.”
England, a three-time runner-up previously, had bowled and fielded superbly to restrict 2015 runners-up New Zealand to 241-8, with Liam Plunkett and Woakes each taking three wickets.
Henry Nicholls made 55 and Tom Latham 47 without ever really looking comfortable, but the score began to look challenging as England slumped to 86-4 before Stokes and Buttler put on 110 to set up the amazing finale.
“I can’t believe what we have just witnessed,” exclaimed former England captain Michael Vaughan. “The emotions of what we’ve been through on air... wow, but what about the players?! They gave it absolutely everything.”
England batsman Joe Root was at a loss to describe the drama of the final.
“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.” England batsman Jonny Bairstow put it best. “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 partnership 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.”