Published 00:24 IST, July 15th 2019
World Cup: Here's why England won the World Cup even though New Zealand tied their super over total
Chasing the 242-run target set by the Kiwis, England leveled the score initially during their innings followed by a tie in the super over that forced a boundary count-back.
England beat New Zealand in a nail-biting last-ball thriller to clinch their maiden World Cup title at Lord's Cricket Grounds in London on July 14. The World Cup hosts levelled scores with the Kiwis in the last ball of the 50th over to put the match through a Super Over to decide the winner of the contest following which the match was once again tied in the last ball of the Super Over. However, England emerged as the winners of the match owing to the boundary count, with England having scored 24 boundaries in their innings against New Zealand's 16.
Chasing the 242-run target set by the Kiwis, England levelled the score initially during their innings followed by a tie in the super over that forced a boundary count-back. Ben Stokes top-scored for the hosts with an unbeaten 84-not out along with an assist from Jos Butler (59). In the Super Over, Ben Stokes once again came out to bat along with Jos Butler, setting New Zealand a 15-run target which the Kiwis managed to level their score with. However, the boundary count-back favoured the hosts as they had scored eight more boundaries than New Zealand.
Henry Nicholls(55) and Tom Latham (47) helped New Zealand reach 241 in 50 overs after a three-wicket haul from Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett restricted the Kiwis to a score lesser than 250 runs. In reply, Lockie Ferguson and James Neesham picked up three wickets each to force the match into a Super Over to decide the winner.
Youngster Jofra Archer held his nerves while bowling the Super Over despite conceding 14 runs as a run-out off the last ball of the Super Over saw the game tied once again before the boundary count-back rule applied.
Kane Williamson was adjudged the player of the tournament for scoring 548 runs with the bat at an average of 91.33 in addition to leading the Kiwis from the front.
Updated 00:52 IST, July 15th 2019