Published 10:27 IST, July 15th 2019
World Cup | Here's what Ben Stokes said about the controversial 6-run overthrow with England needing 9 from 3
England's Ben Stokes who was adjudged Man of the match in the World Cup final as his batting heroics helped the hosts win their first ever World Cup, has opened up on perhaps the most controversial moment from the dramatic ending of the match - an overthrow that gave England six runs off one ball.
- SportFit
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England's Ben Stokes who was adjudged Man of the match in the World Cup final as his batting heroics helped the hosts win their first ever World Cup, has opened up on perhaps the most controversial moment from the dramatic ending of the match - an overthrow that gave England six runs off one ball.
"In the last over when the ball hit the bat and went for four - I apologised to Kane (Williamson) for that," Stokes said, having scored 84 runs in England's innings to bring them level with New Zealand's 241-run total.
The incident had occurred on the third-last ball of England's innings, with the side then requiring nine runs to win from three balls. Stokes heaved a grounded shot and aimed to run for two. As the ball came in towards the end at which he was running, he dived to make it into the crease, and as he did so, the ball his his bat, cannonning off to head to the boundary for four. The umpire signalled that it had been six runs. England eventually tied New Zealand's score, at which point the final went into a super over.
In the super over, England batted first, with Stokes and Buttler putting 15 runs on the board. In reply, Neesham and Guptill also scored the same runs, but England were adjudged the winners because they had scored more boundaries in their innings - a technicality that has polarised the Cricketing world.
About the overthrow, Kane William said, "It was a shame that the ball hit Stokes' bat, but I just hope it doesn't happen in moments like that. I don't wish to nitpick, just hope it never happens in such moments ever again."
England have won the World Cup for the first time in their history. For New Zealand, captain Kane Williamson being adjudged man of the tournament was scant consolation for a second consecutive World Cup final loss.
Updated 10:49 IST, July 15th 2019
