The 2019 World Cup Super Over: Cricket's Most Dramatic Finish

The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup final at Lord's on July 14, 2019 is widely considered the greatest and most controversial limited-overs match ever played. England and New Zealand tied on 241 runs each at the end of 50 overs. The Super Over also tied, with both teams scoring 15. England were then declared the winners on the basis of having hit more boundaries in the match — 26 to New Zealand's 17. The ICC subsequently changed this rule, ensuring future ties are settled by further Super Overs.

The Match

New Zealand made 241/8 batting first. England's chase was seemingly over when they were 227/9 in the 49th over, needing 15 from the last over with one wicket remaining. A throw deflected off Ben Stokes's bat for an overthrow four — awarding England 6 runs from the incident. The deflection was accidental but proved crucial. Stokes finished with 84* as England tied the match. In the Super Over, New Zealand scored 15. Needing 15 from the final over, England tied on 15 with the last ball. England were then declared winners on boundaries.

The Controversy

• The boundary count rule: Using boundaries rather than wickets or a further Super Over to decide a World Cup final was widely criticised as an unsatisfactory tiebreaker. New Zealand supporters argued that superior performance through the match (fewer wickets lost, better bowling in the Super Over) should count for more.
• The overthrow controversy: The 6 runs from the deflected overthrow were awarded under ICC rules, but many felt the umpires may have incorrectly judged whether Stokes and his partner had crossed for a third run at the moment of the throw (which would have reduced the overthrow boundary award to 5 runs).
• ICC rule change: Within weeks of the final, the ICC announced that future Super Overs tied would be resolved by additional Super Overs rather than boundary count, acknowledging the unsatisfactory nature of the resolution.