Morgan: I’d like to commiserate Kane and his team. The example that they lead is hugely commendable to him and his team. On a tough wicket where everyone found it tough to score. Buttler and Stokes put together a partnership, and I thought that would take us deep, and it did. This has been a four-year- journey – and we find it hard to play on wickets like that.
To get over the line today means the world to us. I was being cooled down by Plunkett, which isn’t a good sign. Some of the support staff – not only the best in our team, but in the world, they really helped. Full credit to the two boys who went out for the Super Over, given that they were there most recently. Archer just improves every time he goes out there. Really incredible – everyone in the changeroom today, Willey, Billings, whoever missed out on the squad – I’d like to mention them too.
Joe Root is a World Champion
Morgan: Today was about getting over the line. Plunkett had to calm me at times. We just wanted to ensure that Stokes wasn’t too cooked. Full credit to Archer as well as Buttler and Stokes.
Williamson: Congratulations to England, they truly deserve it. We haven’t seen many of 300-run scored. It wasn’t meant to be today. We have a balanced attack. The performance throughout was excellent. It’s a tough one to swallow at the moment. Would swap both these awards for a World Cup win in a heartbeat.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is the Player of the tournament.
Stokes: Pretty good innit? I’m pretty lost for words. All the hard work that’s gone on in these four years, and to execute with such a good game is unthinkable. Thanks to everyone for all the support. We just kept talking during the partnership with Jos, and the run-rate wasn’t getting away, and in the last over when the ball hit the bat and went for four – I apologize to Kane for that.
Ben Stokes is the Man of the Match.
Plunkett: What a day. Hasn’t sunk in yet. What a finish that was. Hats off to the Kiwi boys. Wanted to get to the other end, get Stokesy in. Still had batters towards the end. As Root said, felt like it would happen for us.
Buttler: I thought I’d seen everything in cricket, and that game was just ridiculous. Hard to put it in words.
England’s men and women are now world champions.
England (1987, 1992)
Sri Lanka (2007, 2011)
New Zealand (2015, 2019)
Archer: From the the beginning of the tournament, we knew that we had to go all the way. My heart is still racing. I can’t believe it.
Incredible scenes: We have never seen the Lord’s members end so pumped. There are fist bumps, high-fives and hugs. English cricket finally have their crowning glory.
England will be crowned champions for the first time
Jason Roy had fumbled a throw earlier and here, he showed nerves of steel. Perfect throw – right end where Guptill was struggling and on the bounce. Buttler had the final say. Yet another heartbreak for New Zealand. Guptill is distraught. England players are in tears, understandably so.
ENGLAND ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS
What a finish. The scores are tied and the England players are running in all directions. Has there ever been a better finish in the game, ever? Yorker from Archer and the batsmen try to run a two. The throw came at the right end and Buttler took off the bails. Once again, cricket, bloody hell!
New Zealand need 2 from the last ball: Just a single from the penultimate ball.
New Zealand 13/0 in 4 balls: What a finish and New Zealand are in the driver’s seat. They need three from two balls. The throw came at the wrong end. This is incredible.
New Zealand 9/0 in 2 balls: SIX! A two from Neesham and then a slightly short one is clubbed into the stands and Ian Smith is on his feet in the commentary box.
New Zealand 1/0: Wide to start. Neesham moved on the off-side and Archer can’t believe it. New Zealand have a free run.
Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham are New Zealand’s batsmen.
The England fielders are on the field. Morgan is involved in a chat with the umpires.
We learn that Archer has the ball in his hand. Neesham will be one of the batsmen.
New Zealand need 16 to win
England 15/0 in 6 balls: What a spectacular finish for England. A single and a two from the fourth and the fifth balls off perfect yorkers. Buttler took a two from the fifth as Nicholls lost it under the sun.
England 8/0 in 3 balls: Stokes gets a boundary. He dug out a full toss and the ball intercepts the two men in the deep on the leg side. The crowd is on its feet.
England 4/0 in 2 balls: Single from the next ball. Buttler couldn’t do much with the yorker and it’s straight to deep mid-wicket.
England 3/0 in 1 ball: Stokes goes for a big heave and the ball beats point and short third man and the batsmen run three. Well run.
Stokes and Buttler come on to bat for England. Boult to bowl.
WE ARE INTO THE SUPER OVER
Just one for England and the throw comes in Boult takes off the bails. What a final. Incredible. It’s also strange how Stokes didn’t go for a big heave and tried to place it in the gap. Wow! Who would have written this script.
England need 2 from 1 ball: Rashid is run out while going for a couple and Mark Wood comes to the crease. Ben Stokes takes strike. The ball came to the non striker’s end and the batsmen scampered for a double. Remember, one run means there will be a Super Over.
England need 3 from 2 balls
Six from Stokes. He sweeps. Yes, sweeps Boult over the fence for a six on the leg side. In the next ball, while going for a couple, the ball hits Stokes’ bat, who was going for a dive and the ball runs away to the fence. How the tale has turned. Incredible. Cricket, bloody hell.
After 49 overs, England 227/8 – Jofra Archer out!
You couldn’t have scripted this. First, Boult stepped on the ropes in the deep and it’s a six for Stokes. Then comes a single and Neesham cleans up Archer with a slower ball. Fifteen needed from the last over for England. Stokes is on strike.
J Archer b Neesham 0 (1)
After 48.3 overs, England 220/7 – Liam Plunkett out!
Another blow for England as Plunkett can’t clear the long-off fielder. It’s straight down to Trent Boult’s throat and importantly, that is another dot ball.
L Plunkett c Boult b Neesham 10 (10)
After 48 overs, England 218/6 – Stokes 62, Plunkett 8
Pressure, pressure everywhere. Plunkett hammers the first ball of the over for a boundary but Boult makes a good comeback in the over. Ten from it as the pacer ensures that there are no further boundaries in the over. Plunkett keeps strike. England need 24 from 12 to win.
After 47 overs, England 208/6 – Stokes 57, Plunkett 4
Plunkett managed to connect one on the leg side and gets a boundary. However, England can get only five from the other five. Ferguson was once again superb with his slower balls. The pacer also ends his spell.
After 46.1 overs, England 203/6 – Chris Woakes out!
Ferguson gets his third and is turning the match on its head. Woakes swings for the fences off the short ball and hits him high on the bat. Safe catch for Latham behind the stumps. More drama coming up. Has there been a World Cup final like this?
C Woakes c Latham b Ferguson 2 (4)
After 46 overs, England 203/5 – Stokes 56, Woakes 2
Stokes flicks one through the leg side and gets a boundary in the final ball of the over. New Zealand now have their noses in front. It must be said that Neesham had bowled an exceptional over up until that point.
After 44.5 overs, England 196/5 – JOS BUTTLER OUT!
There is a twist in the tale and it is exactly the one New Zealand needed. The slow delivery from Ferguson does the trick after Buttler gets six from the first two. Southee, the substitute comes running in from the deep and plucks it. We are set for a magnificent finish.
J Buttler c Sub (Southee) b Ferguson 59 (60)
After 44 overs, England 189/4 – Stokes 50, Buttler 53
Buttler gets to his fifty by lofting the ball through extra cover. It also brings up the 100 partnership between the two. A single from Stokes also sees him get to his fifty. The all-rounder doesn’t raise his bat. But Boult comes back ever so well in the over to stifle the batsmen with yorkers. England need 53 from 36 balls to win.
After 43 overs, England 183/4 – Stokes 49, Buttler 48
Buttler’s paddle scoop didn’t get him a boundary this time as England once again deal in ones and twos in the over. Six from it as both batsmen approach their respective half-centuries. Who will Williamson turn to partner Ferguson?
After 42 overs, England 177/4 – Stokes 47, Buttler 44
Stokes was once again floored while trying to block out a yorker. Just four from the over and yet again, New Zealand are building excellent dot ball pressure. England need 65 from the last eight to become champion.
After 41 overs, England 173/4 – Stokes 44, Buttler 43
Good comeback over from Ferguson. Buttler was surprised with the short ball and importantly, it was an economical over – two singles and a wide. This is still anybody’s game. For all those people asking in, yes, a tie would mean that a super over will be played.
After 40 overs, England 170/4 – Stokes 43, Buttler 42
Buttler shuffles across and paddles the ball down to the fine-leg boundary for a four. For the first time, we are seeing the England wicketkeeper use his supple wrists to good effect. The partnership now is gathering genuine momentum.
After 39 overs, England 162/4 – Stokes 41, Buttler 36
Stokes hammers a Ferguson short delivery almost like a tennis shot and the ball goes down the slope and into the boundary. Six from the over and now, New Zealand need a breakthrough. England have the required rate well under control.
After 38 overs, England 156/4 – Stokes 36, Buttler 35
Buttler gets another boundary, this time chipping it past bowler Neesham and into the ropes. England are beginning to get some fluency in the innings for the first time with the duo playing sensibly at the moment.
After 37 overs, England 149/4 – Stokes 33, Buttler 31
The first ball of Ferguson’s comeback over is biffed away by Buttler to the point boundary. It was slightly wide from the pacer, who adjusts his length well during the rest of the over. Six from it. The required rate is steadily creeping up.
After 36 overs, England 143/4 – Stokes 32, Buttler 26
New Zealand lose their review. Umpire Dharmasena had ruled it not out with Buttler missing the ball while playing across the line. The ball was missing the leg-stump. Fine comeback from Henry with just two runs coming from it.
After 35 overs, England 141/4 – Stokes 31, Buttler 25
Four singles from the Santner over. England will be relieved by seeing Stokes and Buttler rotating strike fairly easily. Yes, the boundaries have been hard to come by but England can take it till the end with wickets in hand at this rate.
After 34 overs, England 137/4 – Stokes 29, Buttler 23
Buttler and Stokes build a fifty run stand and the England supporters finally find their voice. The England all-rounder continues to pinch twos by finding the gaps in the deep. He starts the over with three twos. The batsmen cross two singles to end the over. England need more of these. The hosts need 105 from 96 balls to win. Drinks called.
Henry is back on.
After 33 overs, England 129/4 – Stokes 22, Buttler 22
Santner picks it up from where he left against India. He is slower through the air, and the batsmen are left guessing till the last moment. Just three singles from the over.
After 32 overs, England 126/4 – Stokes 21, Buttler 20
Ooooh! That was close. Buttler slashes hard but Guptill at point stretches full length to his right but the ball eludes his fingertips to go to the boundary. England need a boundary every now and then.
After 31 overs, England 119/4 – Stokes 20, Buttler 15
Down the ground is England’s go-to option and England get four singles from the over. The run rate is steadily creeping up beyond 6.50. We are in for a nail-biter.
Santner comes on for New Zealand for the first time.
After 30 overs, England 115/4 – Stokes 17, Buttler 13
Just four singles from it as the English batsmen capitalise on the field being slightly spread out. Williamson is aware of what these two can do.
Boult is back in the attack.
After 29 overs, England 111/4 – Stokes 16, Buttler 10
Buttler had two near-misses in the over. First, CDG’s cutter nearly finds his off-stump but missed by an inch. The last ball of the over saw Buttler’s slash nearly find Ferguson at third-man but it fell just short.
After 28 overs, England 106/4 – Stokes 15, Buttler 9
Stokes shows aggressive intent by stepping out and belting the ball past Neesham for a boundary. Buttler, meanwhile, is happy to rotate strike – not long ago, England were struggling to do that. Every run being cheered here.
After 27 overs, England 98/4 – Stokes 10, Buttler 7
Another tidy over from CDG, who has been a revelation for his side today. Yet again, the batsmen struggle to get the ball past the off-side ring. The New Zealand all-rounder’s figures read 9-2-22-1.
After 26 overs, England 93/4 – Stokes 7, Buttler 5
Now, the run rate has crept a touch over six as England get five from the over. The pressure is building and England simply cannot afford to lose another wicket. The last ball of the over saw the batsmen push for a quick two.
After 25 overs, England 93/4 – Stokes 7, Buttler 5
England manage to eke out four singles from the over. Buttler wastes no time in getting off the mark, getting a couple. The required rate is now creeping up to a run-a-ball.
After 23.1 overs, England 86/4 – EOIN MORGAN OUT!
Jimmy Neesham strikes with his first ball. Morgan slaps it through the off-side and Ferguson runs in from the deep, dives in and plucks it. England are in all sorts of trouble and New Zealand are on top. Ian Smith finds his voice and boy, is is brilliant!
E Morgan c Ferguson b Neesham 9(22)
After 23 overs, England 86/3 – Morgan 9, Stokes 5
Stokes cuts lose by playing his trademark step out and hoick targeting the deep mid-wicket boundary. Immediately, Latham walks upto the stumps and CDG finishes the over well, no runs from it.
After 22 overs, England 82/3 – Morgan 9, Stokes 1
Ferguson is steaming in and the New Zealand fielders are up in arms for a caught behind. Morgan was floored by the quickness of the delivery. The umpires check on the 32-year-old. Ferguson tries the short one again but ends up conceding five wides. The bowlers are sniffing blood. The off-side field is packed and Morgan can’t get it away. Nervous times for the England captain.
After 19.3 overs, England 71/3 – JONNY BAIRSTOW OUT!
England lose their third and it was just after Bairstow had crunched Ferguson through the covers. Here, he chops it on, and this time the bails come off. New Zealand are on top and for the Indian fans, it might just be deja vu.
J Bairstow b Ferguson 36 (55)
After 18 overs, England 63/2 – Bairstow 32, Morgan 4
Ferguson comes steaming in and immediately tests Morgan with the short ball. These are testing times for the England captain. There are fielders in the ring with a third man and fine leg was in place.
After 16.3 overs, England 56/2 – JOE ROOT OUT!
Uncharacteristic innings from Root, who buckles under pressure. He was targeting the boundary off CDG and gets a nick. Simple catch for Latham. Poor from the England Test captain. Big wicket for New Zealand. Game on!
J Root c Latham b De Grandhomme 7 (30)
After 15 overs, England 56/1 – Bairstow 31, Root 6
Five from the over off CDG as the batsmen finally realise that they need to get a move on with the score. There was a sloppy misfield from Taylor that allowed the batsmen to cross over for a single. New Zealand need to cut that out.
After 14 overs, England 51/1 – Bairstow 29, Root 3
Once again, luck deserts Henry. Bairstow gets a thick inside edge that misses the stumps by centimetres and runs away to the boundary. He followed that up after a ferocious pull shot. Back-to-back boundaries and England finally have some momentum.
After 13 overs, England 41/1 – Bairstow 18, Root 2
After what seems like an age, England finally have some runs as Root steps out to CDG and flicks it away to deep mid-wicket. Three runs from the over. The pressure is on.
After 12 overs, England 39/1 – Bairstow 18, Root 2
England have not scored a run in 19 deliveries. Superb from Henry once again as Root goes against playing anything extravagant against the pacer. New Zealand have steadily built dot-ball pressure. Yet another maiden.
After 11 overs, England 39/1 – Bairstow 18, Root 2
Dropped! We have two maidens in a row and England’s haven’t scored a run in 13 deliveries. CDG’s fuller delivery was timed sweetly from Bairstow but the bowler couldn’t react quick enough.
Colin de Grandhomme is handed the ball.
After 10 overs, England 39/1 – Bairstow 18, Root 2
Maiden over for Henry, who has been magnificent once again with the scrambled seam. Root almost got an outside edge with slips in place. Testing times this.
After 9 overs, England 39/1 – Bairstow 18, Root 2
Bairstow is punishing anything in his hitting range. A short delivery from Henry was whipped to the fence by the Yorkshireman. England are happy to see the the ones outside off-stump go. It’s turning out to be quite a contest.
After 8 overs, England 34/1 – Bairstow 14, Root 1
Henry continues to draw false shots with the away swing. This time, Bairstow nearly fell for the same trap Roy did. New Zealand are probing and one mistake from England will open this game up nicely. Root is off the mark by stepping out and pushing it to mid-off.
After 7 overs, England 33/1 – Bairstow 14, Root 0
Bairstow gets his third boundary with another punch past the reach of mid-on. Most of England’s scoring shots have been through fours so far. Boult is on the money, though.
After 5.4 overs, England 28/1 – JASON ROY OUT!
There is Henry’s reward. Away swing for the bowler and Roy nicks it to Latham. Well deserved wicket that for New Zealand. They kept the pressure on Roy it was a nice low catch by the keeper.
J Roy c Latham b Henry 17 (20)
After 5 overs, England 24/0 – Roy 13, Bairstow 10
Boult loses his length by a touch and Bairstow plays two gorgeous cover drives through the covers to finally get England’s chase underway. New Zealand need to take a cue from what they have been doing right so far. There are plenty of fielders placed in catching positions.
After 4 overs, England 16/0 – Roy 13, Bairstow 2
Roy has had enough and decides to step out and heave it over mid-on. The ball lands safely but New Zealand bowlers are asking all the questions. Williamson couldn’t have asked more from his bowlers here. A bit of luck and England could have been three-down.
After 3 overs, England 12/0 – Roy 10, Bairstow 1
Roy gets his second boundary. This time, it is slightly short of a length from Boult and he cuts it away through the covers. In the same over, Roy was beaten all ends up by a brilliant inswinger that went through his legs. It’s all happening here.
After 2 overs, England 5/0 – Roy 5, Bairstow 0
Well, well...there are early nervous times. While Boult is getting the ball to come back in, Henry moves it away. Roy was beaten all ends up with the scrambled seam and the ball went just over the stumps. The opener has the last laugh in the over, pushing it down the ground for a boundary. New Zealand will be encouraged by this.
After 1 over, England 1/0 – Roy 1, Bairstow 0
Roy was saved by the umpire’s call there and Boult is getting the ball to seam back in. Worrying early start for England. The field placements are not too dissimilar to what we saw against India – slips, gully, backward short-leg.
Review taken in the first ball of the match. There is some swing for Boult. Erasmus says not out but that was mighty close.
Roy and Bairstow make their way to the middle.
7:35 pm: 241 is also, incidentally, the score Australia made in the 1996 World Cup final, where we had the last new champion. We will see a new champion at the end of the match.
NEW ZEALAND FINISH AT 241/8
Good finish for England and Archer. The hosts might have taken this score at the start of the match but a repeat performance of the India game will see New Zealand also roar back in the contest. Early wickets, though, will be the key. All the England overs were impressive with the ball. They will be hoping that those extras in the death overs don’t cost them.
After 49.3 overs, NZ 240/8 – MATT HENRY OUT!
Archer is full...it’s almost a full-toss but Henry fails to connect and the ball crashes on off. This was after the pacer bowled yet another wide.
M Henry b Archer 4 (2)
After 49 overs, NZ 238/7 – Santner 4, Henry 4
Henry cuts lose with a ferocious pull shot that falls just short of the cow cover fence. New Zealand are inching close to 250 but need a final flourish. Archer is handed the ball. In the meanwhile, Woakes also wastes England’s review.
After 48.3 overs, NZ 232/7 – TOM LATHAM OUT!
Latham disappears and Woakes now has three. Buttler’s sloppy work behind allowed New Zealand to get five wides. Then a low full toss does the trick. Simple catch for Vince at mid-off.
T Latham c Sub (Vince) b Woakes 16 (28)
After 48 overs, NZ 225/6 – Latham 47, Santner 2
Still no sign of boundaries as Archer completes his ninth over. England have been disciplined and Archer is once again superb with his lengths. Just five from it. Can New Zealand finish well?
After 46.5 overs, NZ 219/6 – COLIN DE GRANDHOMME OUT!
Woakes gets his second and De Grandhomme was beaten all ends up with the slower ball. He got a top edge and it’s a simple take for substitute Vince at mid-on. The New Zealand all-rounder never looked comfortable at the crease.
C De Grandhomme c Sub (Vince) b Woakes 16 (28)
After 46 overs, NZ 214/5 – Latham 41, De Grandhomme 13
Just three singles from Archer’s eighth over. Once again, the pacer was a treat with his cleverly disguised slower ones and the ones that came into the batsman shorter length. England will be the happier team now but 250 will be a challenging score.
After 45 overs, NZ 211/5 – Latham 39, De Grandhomme 12
For the first time, Latham connects off his hips and a full delivery is clipped over the ropes over deep mid-wicket for a six. Wood is struggling and ends his spell holding his hips. England will hope that doesn’t have to bat in this match.
After 44 overs, NZ 204/5 – Latham 32, De Grandhomme 12
England are doing a fine job cutting off the boundaries at this stage. New Zealand get to the 200-run mark. Archer’s short deliveries continue to trouble the batsmen. CDG, going over the top, gets a bottom edge and it just fell short of Stokes at cover. However, the pacer loses his length completely towards the end of his seventh over, bowling three wides.
After 42 overs, NZ 186/5 – Latham 27, De Grandhomme 8
After Amla and Carey, CDG gets a knock on his helmet and the ball balloons over backward square leg. Good comeback over from Archer, varying his pace, going full and short and rattling the batters.
After 41 overs, NZ 181/5 – Latham 25, De Grandhomme 6
Liam Plunkett finishes with superb figures of 10-0-42-3. What an impact he has had since coming into the England setup. Meanwhile, CDG is showing a bit of intent straight away. Just two from the over.
After 39 overs, NZ 173/5 – JIMMY NEESHAM OUT!
There goes Neesham and Plunkett gets his third. Once again, it was with the cross seam delivery and Neesham goes trying to clear mid-on. Root takes a simple catch there and England are on the march. New Zealand need a big cameo from here to get close to the 250 mark.
J Neesham c Root b Plunkett 19 (25)
After 38 overs, NZ 165/4 – Latham 22, Neesham 12
Latham is in the mood and this time, drives beautifully through the covers for a four. It was pitched fractionally full from Wood this time. Six from the over. How vital is this is partnership for New Zealand?
After 37 overs, NZ 159/4 – Latham 17, Neesham 11
Pitched slightly short from Plunkett and New Zealand get a welcome boundary with Latham almost clearing the fine-leg boundary. Can one of the these take the attack to England. New Zealand need a partnership. Seven from the over.
After 35 overs, NZ 152/4 – Latham 12, Neesham 9
Finally, Neesham gets a move on straight away and Stokes’ ploy of bowling short backfires. A pull in front of square. Two boundaries from the over. New Zealand get past the 150-run mark.
Jofradamus knew it all along.
After 33.1 overs, NZ 141/4 – ROSS TAYLOR OUT!
Mark Wood gets the breakthrough. Big wicket for England as Wood strikes in the first over of his comeback spell. It pitched on a fuller length outside off and nipped back in by a touch. Well, well...replays showed the ball going slightly over the stumps.
R Taylor b Wood 15 (31)
After 33 overs, NZ 141/3 – Taylor 15, Latham 11
Stokes had a bit of a problem with his landing and gets more sawdust on the landing area. As we discussed the previous over, Taylor was stepping out of his crease trying to go over the top. Seven from the over and it’s much better from New Zealand.
After 32 overs, NZ 134/3 – Taylor 13, Latham 9
Better from Rashid but the batsmen get three singles from the over. New Zealand need a move on from here. And it is looks like Taylor has to take charge from here.
Plunkett’s first spell: 3-0-19-0
Plunkett’s second spell: 4-0-7-2.... What a game changer!
After 31 overs, NZ 131/3 – Taylor 11, Latham 7
Ben Stokes is brought on and wastes no time before going full. There was no sign of him bending his back during the over. Not a bad start for the England all-rounder, four from it. Drinks called and New Zealand desperately need a rethink of their strategy in the middle.
After 30 overs, NZ 126/3 – Taylor 9, Latham 5
Taylor comes down the track and Rashid nearly gets the better of him with a googly. The former captain chops the ball and luckily, it goes over Buttler’s reach. The pressure is mounting and New Zealand are not able to rotate strike well.
After 29 overs, NZ 123/3 – Taylor 8, Latham 3
Plunkett is in the middle of an inspired spell and is heaping a fair bit of dot ball pressure on New Zealand. Just one from the over are there are several men patrolling the ring.
After 26.5 overs, NZ 118/3 – HENRY NICHOLLS OUT!
Another wicket for Plunkett, who is on a roll. It is the cross seam delivery that does the trick once again for the pacer. Nicholls chops on from a delivery that spat off a fuller length. New Zealand are in a spot of bother.
H Nicholls b Plunkett 55(77)
After 26 overs, NZ 114/2 – Nicholls 52, Taylor 5
Five runs from the Rashid over. Nicholls reaches his fifty and what a fighting knock this has been. His team needs the left-hander to get a big score.
After 25 overs, NZ 109/2 – Nicholls 49, Taylor 3
Just one from the Plunkett over. Yet again, the medium-pacer was terrific with his cross-seam deliveries and didn’t allow the batsmen to pierce gaps past the circle. England might have found their mojo back.
After 24 overs, NZ 108/2 – Nicholls 48, Taylor 3
Too much spin for Rashid during that over and the line wasn’t ideal. Easy start for Ross Taylor, nudging one down to the fine leg boundary for a brace. Five runs from the over.
After 22.4 overs, NZ 103/2 – KANE WILLIAMSON OUT!
Big, big wicket and it is Liam Plunkett who delivers for England. Umpire Dharmasena says not out and Morgan was quick with the review. The replays show that there was a tickle on Williamson’s bat on its way to Buttler.
K Williamson c Buttler b Plunkett 30 (53)
After 22 overs, NZ 102/1 – Nicholls 45, Williamson 30
Four singles from the Adil Rashid over as the Kiwis keep motoring along. It is strange to not see a slip in place for the leg-spinner with the English needing a wicket desperately. New Zealand have crossed the 100-run mark, and it should be said, with some ease.
After 21 overs, NZ 98/1 – Nicholls 43, Williamson 28
Short and wide from Wood and and batsmen are now comfortable playing the pull shot. New Zealand are having a slew of good overs in a stretch and the pressure is now firmly in the England camp. Rashid and Bairstow saved certain boundaries in the deep and Morgan needs to think about his field here. They are getting singles and twos with some ease.
After 20 overs, NZ 91/1 – Nicholls 40, Williamson 24
This over saw Rashid being slower through the air. However, Williamson is now on the front foot, stepping out and clubbing it over mid-on for a boundary. The New Zealand skipper is slowly upping the ante.
After 19 overs, NZ 84/1 – Nicholls 40, Williamson 17
Nicholls is looking in fine touch and that cut shot behind point off Wood was an absolute delight, threading the ball between the two fielders in the deep. The pacer comes back well with a good bouncer in the fifth ball. Seven from the over.
After 18 overs, NZ 77/1 – Nicholls 35, Williamson 14
For the first time in the match, the New Zealanders pick up runs from every ball of the over. Rashid’s first over saw him trying to tempt the batsmen in going over the top of the infield. Seven from the over and we the first sign of aggressive intent from Williamson.
After 17 overs, NZ 70/1 – Nicholls 33, Williamson 10
Once again, steady from New Zealand. Wood is getting the ball to shape back in but there is no sign of panic from the batsmen. Two from the over and Morgan has to look for wickets here.
After 16 overs, NZ 68/1 – Nicholls 32, Williamson 9
Is Nicholls in the middle of scoring a gem here? Plunkett was short again and the southpaw swivels and pulls it behind square for another four. Just a single from the rest of the over but the Kiwis look settled now. Can they build on this?
After 15 overs, NZ 63/1 – Nicholls 27, Williamson 9
Not the ideal start for Wood. Yes, there is movement on offer for him but the left-right combination in the middle sees him hurl two wides. Williamson is finally up and away by tucking away a delivery going down leg to the fine-leg boundary for a four. England should be a little worried as drinks are called.
After 14 overs, NZ 56/1 – Nicholls 27, Williamson 4
New Zealand cross the 50-run mark and Nicholls gets a boundary. Wayward from Plunkett, drifting it down leg, and the left-hander flicks it behind square. This is such a vital stand for the Kiwis. Plunkett’s angles are missing.
After 13 overs, NZ 47/1 – Nicholls 21, Williamson 2
Once again, just one from the over. Woakes continues to probe on the off-stump channel and one suspects that this will be the last over of his first spell. Williamson is still in no hurry to go for his shots.
After 12 overs, NZ 46/1 – Nicholls 21, Williamson 2
First signs of sloppiness from the English fielders as overthrows allow the batsmen to run a couple. Plunkett will be important with his cutters in the middle-overs. Six from the over.
Liam Plunkett is into the attack.
After 11 overs, NZ 40/1 – Nicholls 15, Williamson 2
Rare width on offer from Woakes and Nicholls cuts it away through the off-side field for a boundary. Much better intent from the left-hander. The England pacer was not able to get the ball back in on this occasion. Such a crucial spell this for New Zealand.
After 10 overs, NZ 33/1 – Nicholls 10, Williamson 1
Williamson is finally off the mark with a quick dab and run on the leg side. Archer is getting bounce and that takes the leg-before out of the equation. Yet again, Nicholls is rapped on the pads. Just two from the over.
After 9 overs, NZ 31/1 – Nicholls 10, Williamson 0
Good over for England once again. There was a half-chance for Roy at mid-off but Nicholls got home while scampering to the other end for a quick single. Another one-run over and Williamson has now faced ten balls without getting off the mark. The pressure is building on both captains at the moment.
After 8 overs, NZ 30/1 – Nicholls 9, Williamson 0
Archer uses the slope to good effect and teases Williamson with a mix of short deliveries and balls jagging away from the right hander. Just a single from the over. England now have a spring in their step.
After 7 overs, NZ 29/1 – Nicholls 8, Williamson 0
Superb finish to the over from Woakes as the ball hisses past Williamson’s outside edge. Nervy start for him and the England pacer is getting plenty of movement. There are three slips in place.
After 6.2 overs, NZ 29/1 — MARTIN GUPTILL OUT!
New Zealand lose their review! This time, it was a fairly straightforward decision as Woakes gets the ball to nip back in and the New Zealand opener was beaten by the movement. England have their breakthrough, finally. Poor review from the Black Caps.
M Guptill lbw b Woakes 19 (18)
After 6 overs, NZ 28/0 — Guptill 19, Nicholls 7
England will be a tad worried by the way the batsmen are picking up ones and twos calmly. The batsmen are in no hurry whatsoever. Archer once again hits Guptill on the top of the knee and this time, they were not going for leg-before shout. Four from the Archer over.
After 5 overs, NZ 24/0 — Guptill 18, Nicholls 4
Woakes goes slightly short in the over and Nicholls shows signs of freeing his arms on the off-side. The England pacer finishes the over well, going a lot fuller and bringing the batsman forward. Good over for the hosts, just two singles from it.
After 4 overs, NZ 22/0 — Guptill 17, Nicholls 3
Marty has come to the party early here at Lord’s! Guptill uses Archer’s extra pace and plays the upper cut. Clears third man and we have the first six of the final. He then dances down the ground and smashes one past Archer for four. The openers rotate strike after that. Good start for the Black Caps.
After 3 overs, NZ 10/0 — Guptill 6, Nicholls 2
EVENTFUL OVER AGAIN! Nicholls was trapped LBW by Woakes. Dharmasena raises his finger. Nicholls decides to go for the review and it helps. The ball would have bounced over the wickets. He survives. The Kiwis can breathe again. Nicholls then gets off the mark with two.
After 2 overs, NZ 8/0 — Guptill 6, Nicholls 0
Archer is on the money right away. There is a massive appeal for caught behind against Guptill as Archer gets one to bounce and straighten past the NZ opener. England are convinced they have the wicket, Archer was celebrating! But Erasmus is unmoved.... and England don’t review. WHAT. A. DECISION. Just brilliant from Erasmus, the world’s best for a reason. It clipped Guptill’s thigh pad.
Well, Scotty Styris is definitely excited...
Jofra Archer time...
After 1 over, NZ 5/0 — Guptill 4, Nicholls 0
What a first ball... Chris Woakes floats it in the air. Martin Guptill dances down the track and has a big go at it! It’s signalled wide... and Baz has a laugh on the air. “If that’s not intent, I don’t know what is!” He leaves the next two balls alone. Again comes down the track later in the over but gets no timing. Off the penultimate ball, Guptill punches one in the air, but past point for four. And leaves the last ball alone. Interesting first over, alright.
3.15 pm: New Zealand’s opening pair has averaged just 25 runs — the second lowest in the tournament. It’s a massive day for Martin Guptill especially, who has been woefully short of runs. Can he step up? He is facing Chris Woakes to get us underway.
Here. We. Go!
3.11 pm: How important is this man today for England? What a story it will be if Jofra Archer becomes the architect of England men’s first ever World Cup win.
3.09 pm: Time for the national anthems. New Zealand first... followed by England’s.
3.08 pm: The teams make their way down the stairs... into the famous Long Room... and out on to the field at Lord’s!
Lineups
Both teams are unchanged from their previous game.
England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, L Plunkett, A Rashid, J Archer, M Wood
New Zealand: M Guptill, H Nicholls, K Williamson, R Taylor, T Latham, J Neesham, C de Grandhomme, M Santner, M Henry, T Boult, L Ferguson
2:53 pm: For all the England fans – after the first nine editions proved to be a tough hunting ground for hosts, the last two editions have been won by one of the country co-hosting it. England have the chance to complete a hat-trick on Sunday at Lord’s.
2:52 pm: Some more titbits for all you stats aficionados: Only once has the side batting first in an World Cup final scored more than 300 runs (Australia 359/2 v India, 2003), the highest successful chase in a final was India’s 277/4 v Sri Lanka in the 2011 final (victory target of 275).
“It’s always a 50-50 call here at Lord’s. Want to be more relaxed today and back our brand our cricket. I am really proud of the boys,” says Morgan. We are in for a cracker.
TOSS: NEW ZEALAND WIN TOSS and opt to to bat first. “Great to get across the line against India. Always back Martin Guptill with the bat,” Williamson says. “Expect some runs from him. Different opposition, different venue and a different day [from the previous World Cup]. It is about playing some good cricket.”
2:40 pm: Sourav Ganguly at the pitch report said that there will be movement for the pacers early on. Kevin Pietersen also says that he is not sure if he will bat first on this wicket. There is some green on the wicket and we are not sure if the rain will have a role to play.
2:34 pm: Kane Williamson has scored more runs (548) in this World Cup than any other player has managed in an edition for New Zealand, Joe Root has set the same record for England (549 runs). Both players are in with a chance to overhaul Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 673 runs in one edition (2003). They need a century to overhaul Rohit Sharma’s tally of 649 runs in this edition.
2:24 pm: Believe it or not, New Zealand have the edge. England and New Zealand have met twice before in men’s ODIs at Lord’s, the Black Caps winning both previous encounters, a 5-wicket victory in 2013 and a 51-run triumph in 2008.
2:21 pm: Kumar Dharmasena (despite the Jason Roy outburst in the semi-final) and Marais Erasmus are the main officials for the big day at Lord’s.
2.17 pm: Looking for good omen New Zealand fans?
- England and New Zealand have met twice before in men’s ODIs at Lord’s, the Black Caps winning both previous encounters, a 5-wicket victory in 2013 and a 51-run triumph in 2008.
2.12 pm: Form and history provide mixed signals...
- England have won seven of their last nine men’s ODIs against New Zealand, including a 119-run victory at The Riverside (Durham) in the group stage of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. But before England’s triumph over New Zealand earlier in this tournament they hadn’t beaten the Black Caps in the Men’s Cricket World Cup since 1983, suffering a string of five consecutive defeats against them in the competition in that time.
2.05 pm:
- England are playing in their first ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final since 1992 whilst New Zealand have now reached this stage in back-to-back editions (also 2015) having never made it to the final before.
- England are trying to emulate the England women’s ODI side who lifted the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2017 with a dramatic 9-run victory over India at the same venue (Lord’s).
1.58 pm: First things first. There was some rain at Lord’s earlier but now it seems to be clearing up. We might be in for a delayed start but forecast is fine.
1.55 pm: Hello all! It’s World Cup final day! The biggest day in cricket... once in four years, an occasion that cricket fans around the world wait with excitement for (even if their favourite team is not part of it).
Two years after the women’s team stunned India at Lord’s, England’s men’s team look to create history of their own. Four years after New Zealand fell short at the final hurdle, Kane Williamson and Co stand at the cusp of glory again.
Eoin Morgan’s England face New Zealand at Lord’s on Sunday desperate to win the World Cup for the first time after four years of hard graft. When England exited the 2015 tournament after an embarrassing defeat by Bangladesh, few tipped them as potential champions four years later.
As captain Morgan put it: “If you had offered us the position to play in a final the day after we were knocked out of the 2015 World Cup, I would have laughed at you.”
The challenge for the host nation, as they seek a first title in the 44-year history of the World Cup, is to embrace Sunday’s occasion at Lord’s without it inhibiting their “fearless” brand of cricket.
“It’s the culmination of four years of hard work and dedication, a lot of planning and it presents a huge opportunity to go on and try and win a World Cup,” said Morgan.
New Zealand, who have also never won the World Cup, helped shock England into a change of approach by humiliating them in Wellington four years ago and cannot be underestimated after seeing off Virat Kohli’s India in the semi-finals.
The 2015 losing finalists boast a well-balanced attack led by left-arm quick Trent Boult but their batting has been hugely reliant on captain Kane Williamson, who has scored 548 runs in the tournament at an outstanding average of 91.33, and Ross Taylor.
Williamson said his side were happy to embrace their underdog status, acknowledging that England deserved to be favourites.
“But whatever dog we are, it’s just important that we focus on the cricket that we want to play,” he said. “And we have seen over the years that anybody can beat anybody – regardless of breed of dog.”
(With AFP inputs)
(Screenshots in this blog courtesy Hotstar)