Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Champagne Superover!
England win epic Cricket World Cup final
ENGLAND’S cricketers etched their names into the history books yesterday by winning the World Cup for the first time in an unforgettable day of drama at Lord’s.
Millions across the world tuned in to watch the most thrilling final in the sport’s history.
It was part of a nerveshredding day, as recordbreaking F1 ace Lewis Hamilton won at Silverstone and Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in a marathon match at Wimbledon.
At Lord’s man-of-the match Ben Stokes and bowler Jofra Archer were the heroes as Dublin-born Eoin Morgan’s men beat New Zealand in an unprecedented Super Over shoot-out, after the teams tied on 241 runs.
For New Zealand-born England star Stokes it completed an incredible turnaround in personal fortunes following his court battle a year ago. In August last year Stokes, 28, was cleared of affray after a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub in September 2017.
Parties were expected to go on long into the night after fans watched yesterday’s action on big screens and in pubs.
And Royal Mail said it would issue a special set of commemorative stamps featuring images of the players, as well as placing white and gold postboxes at every the ground in the tournament.
As World Cup fever gripped viewers, even the Queen was on the edge of her seat. A statement issued by Buckingham Palace said: “Prince Philip and I send our warmest congratulations to the England Men’s Cricket team after such a thrilling victory in today’s World Cup Final... Elizabeth R.”
Sporting stars and celebrities were also quick to pay tribute. Former England footballer and Match of The Day host Gary Lineker said: “Never seen anything
like that. Cricket is coming home.” Rio Ferdinand wrote: “Get in there. You’ve done your country proud.” And comedian Dom Joly said: “I have never ever watched anything more gripping, exciting, exhilarating and bloody wonderful as that Cricket World Cup Final – well done boys!”
As if the cricket was not enough, Formula One fans got to see Hamilton race to a record sixth British Grand Prix victory.
Celebs including James Bond star Daniel Craig, Spice Girls Geri Horner and Mel B, and Hollywood royalty Michael Douglas and Catherine Zetajones were at Silverstone to see Hamilton triumph.
And on top of that, Djokovic beat Federer in the longest-ever Wimbledon final, which was decided by a first-ever fifth-set tie break with the pair level at 12 games apiece.
The Serb was handed the trophy by the Duchess of Cambridge, who performed the ceremony for the first time. The drama at Lord’s generated unprecedented scenes at the usually staid Home of Cricket, where the game featured music and drumming.
Members in the pavilion were seen dancing to Sweet Caroline in the break between the two Super Overs.
And the ground erupted at the culmination of the most nail-biting afternoon’s cricket in living memory.
Chasing 242 for victory, Stokes’ scintillating 84 not out helped England force the gripping conclusion. And he was also caught up in controversy with three balls to go.
After he hit a ball into the deep and dived to make his ground after running two, the ball ricocheted off his bat and went for an extra four.
An exhausted Stokes said afterwards: “I’m pretty lost for words. All that hard work for four years and now to be stood here as champions of the world... it’s an amazing feeling.
“Playing against New Zealand is always tough. We had some luck at times and I said to Kane [Williamson, Kiwi captain] I will be apologising for what happened for the rest of my life.”
It was also a dream day for Archer, 24, who was born in Barbados but has an English father and a British passport only became eligible to play for England this year.
After bowling the Super Over he beamed: “My heart is still racing. It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever won.”
Delighted fans were also full of emotion as they left the ground.
Andrew Bowden, 50, from Liphook, Hants, said: “Outside the birth of my two children, that was the greatest day of my life.”
Marianne Benton, 59, of Marlborough, Wilts, added: “It was emotional – strangers were kissing each other.”
And Andrew Culham, from Surrey, a member of the Middlesex Cricket Club for 20 years, said: “I have never seen anything like that.”