2019 Cricket World Cup Final: The Super Over That Stunned the World
England won the 2019 ODI World Cup against New Zealand via boundary count after a tied match and tied super over. Explore the drama, the rules, and why the ICC changed the tie-break system after.
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup Final at Lord's on 14 July 2019 produced the most dramatic finish in the history of one-day international cricket. England and New Zealand tied the 50-over match at 241 each, then tied the Super Over too at 15 each — only for England to win via boundary count, sparking an immediate rule change by the ICC.
The Match in Brief
New Zealand posted 241/8 batting first. England's chase was chaotic — at one point six wickets fell for 86 runs. Ben Stokes played the innings of his life, making 84* including a fortunate six when a throw deflected off his bat for four overthrows. Stokes and Adil Rashid, then Stokes and Mark Wood, kept England alive. The last ball saw England needing two runs off one delivery; they scrambled two runs to tie, sending the match to a Super Over.
The Super Over
England's Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler scored 15 off Trent Boult's Super Over. New Zealand needed 16 off Jofra Archer's over. Martin Guptill and James Neesham scored 15 — the last ball Guptill was run out attempting the second run that would have won New Zealand the tournament. The Super Over was also tied at 15–15.
Boundary Count Rule
Under the regulations in force in 2019, a tied Super Over was resolved by counting boundaries scored across the full 50-over match plus the Super Over. England had scored 26 boundaries (24 fours and 2 sixes) versus New Zealand's 17 (16 fours and 1 six). England were declared champions — the first ODI World Cup title in their history.
Legacy
Martin Guptill's run-out on the final ball remains one of cricket's most heartbreaking moments. New Zealand's Kane Williamson, who top-scored with 30, was awarded Player of the Tournament for his performances across the whole competition — a rare consolation. England's win ended 44 years of World Cup near-misses.
Frequently asked questions
Why did England win the 2019 World Cup Final?
England won via the boundary count rule after both the 50-over match and the Super Over finished tied. England had hit more boundaries (26 vs 17) across the match.
Was the boundary count rule fair?
Most cricket analysts and fans felt it was not a satisfactory way to decide a World Cup. The ICC agreed and changed the rules so multiple Super Overs are now played until there is a winner.
What happened to Guptill on the last ball?
Guptill hit the ball and ran — he needed two runs to win. Thrown in by Jason Roy, Buttler broke the stumps with Guptill short of his ground. New Zealand lost by boundary count.