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Champagne super over: England beat New Zealand to win World Cup in insane fashion

England have won the Cricket World Cup for the first time in insane fashion, beating New Zealand in...
Ciaran Bradley
Ciaran Bradley

7:56 PM - 14 Jul 2019



Champagne super over: England...

Sport

Champagne super over: England beat New Zealand to win World Cup in insane fashion

Ciaran Bradley
Ciaran Bradley

7:56 PM - 14 Jul 2019



England have won the Cricket World Cup for the first time in insane fashion, beating New Zealand in a first-ever super over, as both teams scored 241 in their innings.

This was an incredible display of cricket, as England's early batting collapse was matched by a display by Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes that will live long in the memories of England fans - both in normal time and at the death.

It was the ending of the match that separated this from most finals in sporting history, with the first ever super-over separating the sides.

The final few overs were exceptionally tense, as England chased New Zealand's total of 241, after suffering an early batting collapse that threatened to turn the event into a disaster from an English perspective.

One of the most bizarre events of the World Cup was saved for the penultimate over, when chasing a dozen runs,  Ben Stokes scored two from a ball, only for it to be thrown back towards his bat and go out for another four.

The final overs went to the last ball, which ended in a draw, calling in a super over where six balls are faced by each side. England went first, and scored 15.

The Kiwis needed 16, and were helped immediately by a wide from Jofra Archer that awarded them one run with a free ball.

This was followed by an incredible six, and another couple brought them to needing three from two balls. Archer sent it deep, but Martin Guptill sent it long - England returned and ran them out.

Cue absolute scenes, a 'Decision Pending' - followed by an out.

England were World Champions.

Good Kiwi start

New Zealand started the day well, having elected to bat after winning the toss this morning. It soon became clear that England were by no means going to be crowned on home soil without the Kiwis putting up an enormous fight.

England's bowlers were not in as prolific form as Thursday's semi-final win over Australia, when they ripped through Australia's batting order like they were wet tissue. The Kiwis, however, had come to play in an occasion that promised that one side would win the World Cup for the first time in their history.

England's time at the crease started badly. Their batting lineup has been one of the highlights of the tournament, with Eoin Morgan being chief among them.

The Malahide man has become indispensable for more than just being England captain. Against Afghanistan, he scored the highest number of sixes in a one day international innings, having scored 17.

Alas, it was not Morgan's day. Far from it. He went for nine from James Neesham.

Morgan was not the only player to have an off day, as England's Jason Roy followed his 85 against Australia by going for seventeen from Matt Henry.

But it was Buttler and Stokes that pulled together a fantastic partnership in the middle order, particularly after the departure of Colin de Grandhomme who had terrorised the earlier batsmen.

Slow and steady nearly didn't win the race, but it was a frenetic finish that saw Jofra Archer go for a duck and Stokes throw himself headfirst in to secure 241.

It was a champagne super over for England.

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