England have won an epic World Cup final against the Black Caps - after a tied game and Super Over.
A dejected Martin Guptill is consoled by England's Chris Woakes after the Super Over. Photo: Photosport / Andrew Cornaga
The scores were level after 50 overs, and the Black Caps matched England's 15 in a Super Over but lost on fewer boundaries scored in the match after an extraordinary final at Lord's was tied.
It is England's first World Cup title, while New Zealand finish runners-up for the second straight tournament.
Rollercoaster of emotion, that’s why we love this sport @englandcricket that will go down as a classic, congratulations #CWC19 #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/d9xfi4VsxD
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) July 14, 2019
"We played two games today, we had a Super Over as well - we didn't lose either of them we bowled them out as well and you still don't win the game," New Zealand cricket coach Gary Stead said. "Unfortunately that's sport but maybe it was just England needed it more than us today."
Captain Kane Williamson, named player of the tournament, agreed he'd swap that trophy for one extra run.
"Congratulations to England, they have had a fantastic campaign," he said.
He said the pitches had been challenging - more challenging than people had expected.
People had been expecting pitches that allowed 300 or more runs, but that wasn't the case.
"I want to thank the New Zealand side for the fight they showed, they showed a huge amount of heart. Today, it just wasn't meant to be," he said.
New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham gave 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 fast bowler Chris Woakes said he couldn't believe what had 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 were 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 hosts.
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.
England, three-times runners-up previously, had bowled and fielded superbly to restrict 2015 runners-up New Zealand to 241-8, with Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes each taking three wickets.
Cricket is a game often decided by centimetres. And so it was today. But the big things matter too. Who you are as a person+team. A gutsy, talented group who play the game the way it should be played, for each other+ with integrity. So proud of our @BLACKCAPS #BackTheBlackCaps
— Grant Robertson (@grantrobertson1) July 14, 2019
Read more of RNZ'S Cricket World Cup coverage:
Controlled bowling
Morgan lost an important toss, but Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes led England's controlled bowling display to restrict New Zealand to 241 for eight on a two-paced wicket.
Henry Nicholls made 55 and Tom Latham chipped in with 47 but lack of significant partnerships hurt New Zealand, who eventually settled for a below-par total.
Nicholls and Williamson put on 74 runs to bolster the New Zealand innings but Plunkett's two-wicket, cross-seam masterclass took the wind out of their sails.
Plunkett dismissed both batsmen just when the partnership was looking dangerous and he eventually finished with 3-42.
Woakes claimed three as well, including the wicket of Latham just when the batsman was looking poised to provide the late charge that could have taken New Zealand past the 250-mark.
New Zealand's new ball pair of Trent Boult and Matt Henry returned determined not to let it become a cakewalk for the hosts.
Henry dismissed the in-form Jason Roy for 10 and Colin de Grandhomme put a struggling Joe Root (7) out of his misery.
England could have been in a bigger hole had de Grandhomme not dropped a waist-high return catch from Bairstow, then on 18.
England were gasping on 86-4 when Stokes was joined by Buttler for a 110-run stand to revive the chase and tie the scores, producing one of the most thrilling matches in the history of the game.
Look back on the match commentary here:
- RNZ / Reuters
