Seven balls which had the nation on edge of their seats

Isabelle Westbury sees the making of a new hero as Lord’s hails nerveless Archer

As the country froze, one man held his nerve. Effortlessly he glided in, like a ship soaring across unruffled seas, Jofra Archer, a man who, just a year ago, no one in the country could have known might be here, delivering for England.

What faith in 24-year-old Archer, his first summer of international cricket and all of a sudden he had the hopes of a nation on his shoulders to deliver the super over that would decide the World Cup. A man who the day before told the BBC he liked to “get my work done and then chill” was called upon by his captain to reverse that order.

And he needed as much chill as he could muster because the defence of 15 runs started in the worst possible fashion. Full, outside off — a dot ball, roars the crowd. No, umpire Kumar Dharmasena slowly, agonisingly, raises his arms from his side and a wide is called. Archer clutches his head in his hands. This wasn’t how it was meant to be. One run before a ball had effectively been bowled.

Start again, reset. Eoin Morgan rushes over with an arm around his shoulder. It does the trick. What a great length. Yorker, down to long off. They’re coming back for two, Three from effectively one. It’s OK. England are defending 15.

Right, here he goes again, second ball and it has been heaved for six. Jimmy Neesham has smashed it into the Mound Stand. It’s in the second tier, Archer missing his length by an inch. New Zealand have got nine from two. They need seven from four. It looks like it is going to be so cruel.

But Archer has to continue. A deep sigh, a full delivery, they shouldn’t get two. But they do. It’s out to midwicket and it’s a fumble. They’ve come back for two. Five needed from three. Fourth ball. Another two. New Zealand can do it in twos. Surely it’s all over for England. It’s straighter, Jason Roy again the fielder at mid-wicket and New Zealand have made their ground again. New Zealand have 13 from four. They need just three from two to win.

“Don’t rule out the tie,” quips Michael Vaughan on commentary.

It’s short and quick, too quick,and it’s a toe-end from Neesham. Just the one run. “Don’t throw it, don’t throw it!” scream

ENGLAND Ball One Ben Stokes edges Trent Boult for three down to third man. Two Hard, flat strike from Jos Buttler to midwicket for one. Three Stokes down on one leg to thrash the ball to the midwicket fence. Four Drilled hard by Stokes into the off side but only one. Five Yorker. Buttler gets something on it, Henry Nicholls loses it in the sun and England hurry for two. Six Boult goes for a yorker but it is a low full toss. Buttler gets it through midwicket for four – 15 off the over. NEW ZEALAND Ball One Jofra Archer bowls a wide. One (again) James Neesham digs out a yorker for a two.

Two Neesham goes back in the crease and wallops a six. Three Neesham smears it, Jason Roy misfields in the deep, two runs. Four Neesham hits into the deep. Two. Five Neesham hooks and scampers one. Six Martin Guptill, facing his first ball, needs two to win. He smites to midwicket, Roy throws, Buttler gathers – Guptill tries to get back for the second but is run out.

the crowd. Archer holds it. New Zealand need two to win from the final ball, one to tie. But tie it and England win on more boundaries during this final.what is this? Who made this up, can you imagine winning on this odd, odd rule? Well we have to thank the disgraced tycoon Allen Stanford, who introduced it in 2008 for his T20 series.

Here Archer goes. How on earth has it come down to this? The last ball of the World Cup Final. Deathly silence, just the glide-like run of Archer. It’s full, Guptill has clipped it off his legs, it’s out to mid-wicket, they have to come back for two. The throw comes in, it’s wide to the keeper and Buttler has work to do, but he’s done it. Or has he? The bails are off, the lights are on and Archer is off, tearing across the outfield in celebration. Imran Tahir eat your heart out because there is no man stopping Archer.

Jofra Archer, England’s hero. No one knows what to do, where to run, how to celebrate. It’s Archer’s ball, Archer’s day, Archer’s World Cup. And my goodness has he hit the bull’s-eye.