The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup marked a monumental event in the history of English cricket. After years of waiting, numerous heartbreaks, and coming close on multiple occasions, England finally won their first-ever Cricket World Cup on July 14, 2019, at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. In what was arguably the most dramatic and thrilling final in the history of the tournament, England defeated New Zealand in a match that went into a Super Over, which ended in a tie, leading to a victory by the barest of margins—on the boundary count rule.
This victory not only solidified England’s place in cricketing history but also represented a culmination of years of hard work, reinvention, and a shift in their cricketing philosophy. The journey to this win was long, filled with moments of brilliance, doubt, and pure resilience. This article takes a closer look at England’s path to the 2019 World Cup win, the historic final, the key moments that defined the match, and the impact this victory had on English cricket and its fans.
England’s World Cup Journey: From Disappointment to Dominance
For years, England had struggled in World Cup tournaments despite being the birthplace of cricket. They had reached the final on three previous occasions—in 1979, 1987, and 1992—but had fallen short each time. By the 2015 World Cup, England’s limited-overs cricket was in a state of disarray. A humiliating exit in the group stage, punctuated by a defeat against Bangladesh, led to a complete overhaul of the team’s approach to One Day Internationals (ODIs).
After 2015, England, under the leadership of Eoin Morgan, embarked on a mission to transform their ODI cricket, focusing on aggressive batting, innovative strategies, and fearless cricket. This new brand of cricket was built around attacking openers, explosive middle-order batsmen, and all-rounders capable of turning a game around with both bat and ball.
By the time the 2019 World Cup arrived, England were the number-one ranked ODI team in the world, and they were playing on home soil. Expectations were sky-high, and the team delivered in the group stages, finishing third with six wins and only three losses.
England’s semifinal match against their old rivals, Australia, was a crucial moment in their World Cup campaign. After Australia posted 223 runs, England chased it down with ease, winning by eight wickets and setting up a final clash with New Zealand.
The Final: A Game for the Ages
The 2019 World Cup final between England and New Zealand was a match that no cricket fan will ever forget. Played at Lord’s, the match turned out to be a true rollercoaster, filled with drama, tension, and unpredictable twists that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last ball.
New Zealand’s Innings: Steady but Defendable
New Zealand batted first after winning the toss, and their innings was a steady, yet unspectacular affair. On a pitch that was tricky for batting, New Zealand struggled to accelerate and lost key wickets at crucial moments. Henry Nicholls anchored the innings with a composed 55 off 77 balls, and captain Kane Williamson, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, contributed 30. However, England’s bowlers, particularly Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett, kept things tight, never allowing New Zealand to break free.
New Zealand finished their innings on 241/8 in 50 overs. While the target wasn’t a massive one by modern ODI standards, the pitch conditions and the pressure of a World Cup final made it a tricky chase.
England’s Chase: A Drama Unfolds
England’s chase got off to a shaky start, with their openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow unable to provide the usual explosive start. Roy fell for 17, and Bairstow followed shortly after for 36. When Joe Root, England’s anchor, was dismissed for 7, the home side found themselves under immense pressure at 86/4.
However, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler steadied the ship with a crucial partnership. Buttler, known for his aggressive batting, played a measured innings of 59 off 60 balls, while Stokes battled through a mixture of grit and determination to keep England in the game. With Buttler gone at 196/6, the pressure mounted on Stokes to finish the game.
As the overs ticked by, the tension in the stadium grew palpable. England still needed 15 runs off the last over to win, and Trent Boult was tasked with delivering the final over for New Zealand. What followed was one of the most dramatic sequences in cricketing history.
The Controversial Overthrow
In the final over, with nine runs needed from three balls, Stokes struck a delivery into the deep and sprinted for two runs. As the fielder’s throw came in, it deflected off Stokes’ bat and raced to the boundary, resulting in an unexpected six runs—two from the run and four from the overthrow. This controversial moment would later be scrutinized, but in the moment, it brought England within touching distance of victory.
With two runs needed from the final ball, Stokes and Adil Rashid could only manage a single, leaving the scores tied at 241. The match would be decided by a Super Over.
The Super Over: Tension Reaches Its Peak
For the first time in World Cup history, a final would be decided by a Super Over—a one-over shootout between the two teams. England batted first, sending in Stokes and Buttler to face New Zealand’s Boult. The pair managed to score 15 runs, with Buttler hitting a crucial boundary to push England’s total higher.
New Zealand responded by sending out Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham to chase the 16-run target. Jofra Archer, England’s young fast bowler, was given the responsibility of bowling the Super Over. Neesham struck a six off the third ball, bringing New Zealand within reach of the target.
With two runs needed from the final ball to win, Guptill played the ball into the leg side and sprinted for a second run. However, a brilliant throw from Jason Roy to Buttler at the wicketkeeper’s end caught Guptill short of his ground. The scores were tied again, but England were declared the winners based on a superior boundary count throughout the match.
Key Moments and Turning Points
- Ben Stokes’ Innings: Stokes’ heroic 84* under pressure was the backbone of England’s chase. His calmness in the face of adversity and his ability to stay composed in the final over was instrumental in taking the match to a Super Over.
- The Overthrow Controversy: The moment when the ball deflected off Stokes’ bat and went to the boundary remains one of the most talked-about moments in cricket history. While it was unintentional, it significantly altered the course of the match.
- Jofra Archer’s Nerves of Steel: Bowling the Super Over in a World Cup final is a pressure situation that few cricketers experience. Archer’s ability to stay focused, despite conceding a six, and bowl the decisive delivery was crucial to England’s win.
The Impact of England’s Victory
England’s World Cup triumph in 2019 was more than just a cricketing victory; it was a moment of national pride. After decades of near misses and disappointments, England finally lifted the trophy that had eluded them for so long. The victory was especially sweet given the journey the team had been on since 2015, when they were humiliated on the world stage.
Eoin Morgan, the captain who led England through their transformation, became a national hero. Under his leadership, England had revolutionized the way they played ODI cricket, adopting an aggressive, fearless style that eventually led them to World Cup glory.
For players like Ben Stokes, the 2019 final represented redemption. Stokes had endured personal and professional challenges in the years leading up to the World Cup, but his heroic performance in the final solidified his place as one of England’s greatest cricketers.
Conclusion: A World Cup for the Ages
The 2019 Cricket World Cup final will go down as one of the greatest sporting events of all time. England’s victory, achieved in the most dramatic and improbable fashion, captivated not just cricket fans, but the entire sporting world. The match had everything: skill, tension, controversy, and raw emotion.
For England, it was the culmination of years of hard work, planning, and transformation. For New Zealand, it was heartbreak, but they earned immense respect for the grace with which they handled the defeat. In the end, cricket was the real winner, as the 2019 World Cup final showcased the very best of the sport and will be remembered for generations to come.
