Ben Stokes was adjudged the Player of the Match in perhaps the most sensational and nail-biting final at Lord’s on Sunday. England won not by wickets or runs but by virtue of hitting more boundaries since their scores were level with New Zealand both in their quota of 50 overs as well as the Super Over.
It was a day destined for history to be made. A first-time winner would be crowned was confirmed but what followed was rather dramatic. It was history in the making as the final went down to a Super Over post a run out off the last delivery of England’s 50 overs.
If that was not enough, even the Super over finished on a tie with both the teams ending on 15 runs. However, England were declared winners as they had hit more boundaries than New Zealand – a scarcely believable result.
Before the Super Over was bowled though, perhaps the most dramatic, edge of the seat and exciting final over was bowled on the biggest stage in World Cricket- the World Cup final.
A last over tale that will perhaps be told in stories to grandchildren
This is the World Cup final at Lord’s, London. The stage is set. England need 15 runs to win. Trent Boult for New Zealand has 15 runs to defend. A set Ben Stokes is the key to England’s hopes. A left-arm pacer for New Zealand, who already has a hat-trick in the ongoing tournament, has the bowl in hand for the Kiwis.
The first couple of balls are dot deliveries – nothing less than golden nuggets at that point of time. New Zealand seemed to have sealed the match.
Both these balls were not accurate yorkers outside the off stump but good enough to restrict Stokes from hitting a big shot and he refused to pick up singles to keep strike as he only had Number 10 and 11 for company.
Third ball ———— Six runs! Ben’s ploy to refuse singles had paid off. He had predicted the line was going to be outside the off stump and he used it to his advantage. He got in a position to pick up that line and whacked it for a six on the on-side.
9 to win from 3 balls for England
England now needed 9 runs to win from their remaining deliveries just then perhaps one of the most talked about moment of the match happened.
The fourth delivery turned the match in England’s favour. Ben Stokes went for the big hit yet again but failed to time it perfectly. Martin Guptill came in storming from deep midwicket, collected the ball and threw it to the keeper’s end.
Meanwhile, Stokes knew he had to get back on strike to get England over the line. He dived in to save his wicket and complete the two runs but in the process, the throw from Guptill hit Stokes’ bat and went for a boundary. They had completed their two runs as well and that meant six runs were added to the total.
“I apologize to Kane (Williamson) for that,” Stokes said post the match but the laws of the game are non-negotiable.
As per the laws, a batsman cannot be deemed out if the obstruction in the field is accidental and so any runs scored in such an event will be allowed to remain.
3 runs were now needed in last 2 deliveries and even though there were run-outs at the non-striker end in both these deliveries, the batsmen sacrificing their wickets to keep Stokes on strike, two runs in two deliveries were completed and the match went down to a Super Over.
Why were England adjudged Champions even when the Super over was tied?
A mere arbitrary rule helped England win the title. They had hit more boundaries than New Zealand.
Although it may be argued that an arbitrary technicality decided the fate of the World Cup title, but then the law was made exactly for a situation in which both the teams just cannot be separated.
England had hit 26 boundaries, New Zealand 17. England won the title, but New Zealand did not lose.