2019 World Cup Final: How England Won on Boundary Count
The 2019 Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand tied in both regulation play and the Super Over. England won by counting boundaries. Here's exactly how and why.
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand at Lord's on July 14, 2019 produced the most extraordinary finish in cricket history — two ties in the same match, decided by a tiebreaker that had never been used before and has never been used since.
The match in brief
New Zealand batted first and scored 241/8 in 50 overs. England needed 242 to win. They reached 241/8 from 50 overs — matching New Zealand's total exactly, with both teams losing 8 wickets. Score tied after 100 overs.
The Super Over
A Super Over was used to break the tie. Each team batted one over (6 balls, maximum 2 wickets). New Zealand batted first and scored 15/1 off Martin Guptill and James Neesham. England chased 16 to win — hitting 15/1 off Trent Boult, level again after two Super Overs.
How England won
With both the match AND the Super Over tied, the ICC used a boundary count tiebreaker: the team that had hit more fours and sixes across their 50 overs was declared the winner. England had hit 26 boundaries in the main match; New Zealand hit 17. England were declared the 2019 World Cup champions.
Controversy and rule change
The boundary count rule was widely criticised as an unfair way to decide a world final. New Zealand's total of 241 was perfectly respectable — they had not played worse cricket across 50 overs. After 2019, the ICC amended the Super Over rule: if the Super Over ties, another Super Over is bowled — the boundary count tiebreaker is no longer used.
Key moments
| Moment | Impact |
|---|---|
| Ben Stokes 84* in main innings | Kept England alive when they were 86/4 |
| Overthrow 6 from boundary deflection | Gave England 6 runs off 1 delivery |
| Guptill's run-out in Super Over | New Zealand's hopes ended |
| England declared winner on boundaries | Most controversial finish ever |
Frequently asked questions
How did England win the 2019 World Cup?
England won on boundary count after both the main match and the Super Over ended in ties. England had scored 26 boundaries in their innings; New Zealand scored 17.
What is a Super Over in cricket?
A Super Over is a one-over eliminator used to decide the winner when a limited-overs match ends in a tie. Each team bats one over. The team scoring more runs wins.
Did the ICC change the Super Over rule after 2019?
Yes. After the 2019 final controversy, the ICC removed the boundary count as a tiebreaker. If a Super Over ties, another Super Over is now played until there is a winner.