One Week On, We're Still Trying To Process The Miracle Of Lord's

IT’S a week since Lord’s bore witness to the most remarkable game of cricket ever played. Yet given just how frantic the World Cup final between England and New Zealand was, most people are still struggling to process what happened.

- Chris Stocks

In short, England are the world champions, following on from the footballers of 1966 and the rugby union heroes of 2003 as the only sides from this country to win a World Cup in a major men’s sport.

To say victory didn’t come easy is an understatement. In fact, these teams were unable to be separated after both the regulation 50-over match and then a super over decider were tied.

Eoin Morgan’s men prevailed on a boundary countback after New Zealand, who had hit 241-8 batting first in ‘normal time’, matched England’s 15 runs from the super over.

Such a description, though, doesn’t do this instant classic justice. New Zealand looked odds-on to overturn that total when Jimmy Neesham hoisted the second legal ball of Jofra Archer’s super over – yes the 24year-old had opened with a wide to fray everyone’s nerves some more – high into the stands.

But Archer held it together and the Black Caps were left needing two to win from the final delivery – just as England were in the regulation match. Martin Guptill got bat on ball. With one run already completed, Jason Roy picked it up at deep midwicket and, with Morgan from mid-on directing him to throw towards the Pavilion End, arrowed it in to Jos Buttler. England’s wicketkeeper gathered and, with Guptill diving for the line, took off the bails.

England had won by a matter of inches. Not that everyone knew.