#OnThisDay in 2019: Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer take England to ODI World Cup glory against New Zealand in epic final at Lord's
14th July 2019 is a date no English cricket fan will forget. Even if you are a genuine cricket fan, this is likely to be an unforgettable day for you. England and New Zealand clashed in arguably the greatest final of all time with Eoin Morgan's men sealing their side's first-ever ODI World Cup win in a blockbuster game.
At the end of 50 overs, both teams had posted 241 and when it came down to the Super Over, they couldn't be separated again, finishing on 15 apiece. However, England knew that a tie in the Super Over was enough for them as they had hit more boundaries than New Zealand during their 50-over innings. Under the hugely debated 'boundary count rule', England were crowned champions.
The final verdict, however, shouldn't take any sheen out of what was a brilliantly contested game between the two sides. If England were formidable and audacious in their methods, New Zealand were street-smart and were the tenacioius underdogs unwilling to go down without a serious fight. Also, the surface at Lord's was just about perfect for an ODI game with something in it for bowlers while also not being impossible to bat on.
New Zealand got to their total through a typically collective batting effort with Henry Nicholls (55) and Tom Latham (47) being the most notable contributors while skipper Kane Williamson (30) also got involved in handy partnerships. They didn't aim too high and respected the conditions offer, much like they did in their semifinal win over India and felt that 241 was a fighting score, even if not a match-sealing one. For England, Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes both picked up three-wicket hauls respectively, and were brilliant with the way they used the surface.
Known for their explosive batting style under Morgan, this surface demanded a different style of play and England were rocked early with an incisive display of new-ball bowling from the Black Caps. The in-form opening pair of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow got starts but neither looked settled at the crease on a tricky pitch. What dented England big time with the massive scalps of Joe Root and Eoin Morgan, both of whom failed to get to double digits.
At 86/4, England neither had the run rate momentum nor the cushion of wickets in the bank in a big final. That's when Ben Stokes rose to the occasion with Jos Buttler. The pair added a brillaint 110-run stand to turn the game on its head but New Zealand were always within distance due to the run rate not being extremely high. Once Buttler fell, the lower order batters started perishing as well, leaving Stokes stranded at one end.
The equation came down to 34 needed off 18 and then 24 off 12 as Stokes kept his side just about in the hunt. Then came two of the most unreal moments in the game. The first, was a dropped catch at long-on by Trent Boult who was a bit too casual in the attempt and not only did he drop Stokes, it also went for six. The left-arm seamer, however, had a brilliant start to the final over with 14 to defend.
The first two deliveries were pinpoint yorkers and Stokes could do nothing about it. 15 from 4 and surely, it seemed like it was a bridge too far. Stokes, though, doesn't give up that easily and he then played an outrageous slog sweep over deep mid-wicket for a six to bring the equation to 9 off 3. Now is when the second unreal event happened, a kind that probably never happened on the cricket field.
Stokes mistimed a full toss to the leg-side and hared back for the second run with a dive to boot. However, just as he got up in one motion after the dive, the throw from the deep hit his bat and went all the way to the boundary. Meaning, England had effectively got six more to the total. Would you believe it?
New Zealand, however, refused to give up just yet and got it down to two off the last ball and took the game to the Super Over. Stokes came out to bat along with Buttler, and the pair whacked 15 off the over that was bowled by Boult. Again, it seemed like England were nearly there. But, Jimmy Neesham came out like a man possessed and belted Jofra Archer for a six and took two braces alongside a wide as New Zealand stormed back into the game for one more time.
With five needed off three, Neesham was just one hit away from glory. This game, though, had one more twist left and Archer orchestrated it. The mercurial pacer held his nerve and got the equation down to three off the final ball. England knew a tie was enough, New Zealand needed to get three and while Neesham found the gap, it wasn't enough for three as Martin Guptill got run out in the attempt of the third.
A final worthy of a final and a game that will forever be remembered as one of the greatest games of all time. There will be debates over whether the method was fair to award England as the winner but rules were preset and they were the better team in that regard.
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