2019 Cricket World Cup Final: England vs New Zealand — The Tied Match, Super Over, and Boundary Count Rule
The 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Final at Lord's (14 July 2019) is the most dramatic ODI ever played. England and New Zealand tied at 241 each after 50 overs. The Super Over also tied at 15. England were declared winners on the boundary count rule — they hit 26 boundaries to New Zealand's 17. The result was immediately controversial: New Zealand batters (Guptill run out off the last ball) felt the boundary count rule was unfair. The ICC subsequently abolished the boundary count rule, replacing it with a second Super Over.
The 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Final at Lord's — England vs New Zealand — produced a conclusion that stunned cricket. Two ties in one match, a boundary count tiebreaker, and controversy that changed ICC playing conditions. The match lasted approximately 9 hours and produced one of sport's most disputed endings.
The Match
New Zealand batted first and scored 241/8. England chased. With 3 balls remaining, England needed 15 runs — effectively needing a miracle. Ben Stokes hit a six. Then: a controversial moment. A Stokes drive to deep mid-wicket was fielded and thrown in — the throw deflected off Stokes's bat (as he was diving to complete a run) and raced to the boundary. Under ICC rules, the deflection counted as 6 runs (4 boundary + 2 runs already taken = 6 total, counted as a six). England needed 3 off 2. They took 2 off the last ball. England had scored 241 — a tie. Super Over followed.
The Super Over
England's Super Over: Stokes and Buttler hit 15 runs off Chris Martin's over. New Zealand needed 16 to win. Neesham hit a six — 9 needed off 3. Then 2, then 2. Guptill needed 2 off the last ball — he hit it, both batters ran, the throw to Jos Buttler beat Guptill by millimetres. Super Over: tied at 15 each. The match was decided by boundary count: England had 26 boundaries to New Zealand's 17. England won the World Cup for the first time.
Frequently asked questions
Was the 2019 World Cup Final result fair, and how did the ICC change the boundary count rule after the match?
The 2019 WC Final fairness debate and ICC rule change aftermath. The match's outcome generated instant controversy on two fronts: the overthrow six and the boundary count rule. The overthrow six: when Stokes's bat deflected the throw for 6, many cricket observers argued this should not have counted — Stokes did not intentionally hit the ball (he was completing a run). Under the existing ICC rule (MCC Law 19.8), 6 runs were awarded because the ball reached the boundary after the deflection. The MCC reviewed the law after the final. Their conclusion: the law as written was clear — the 6 was correctly awarded. But they acknowledged the spirit-of-cricket ambiguity. A subsequent law change (Law 19.8 amendment): if the ball deflects off a batter or their equipment without intention, only the runs already completed plus one penalty run are awarded (not the full boundary). Had this rule applied in 2019, England would have received 3 runs (2 completed + 1 penalty), not 6, and would NOT have tied. Under the amended law, New Zealand would likely have won. The boundary count rule: using boundaries as a tiebreaker in a World Cup Final was immediately questioned. The New Zealand players (especially captain Kane Williamson) were visibly devastated; many cricket fans worldwide felt the result didn't reflect who played better cricket. Arguments against boundary count: (1) It favours attacking teams over technically correct teams — NZ had deliberately not hit unnecessary boundaries. (2) It's arbitrary: a team that scores 20 singles shouldn't be ranked below one that hits 4 boundaries. Arguments for boundary count: (1) It was published in the playing conditions — both teams knew the rule before the tournament. (2) Super Overs are equally arbitrary. The ICC's response: effective from 2019 onward, ties in Super Overs lead to a second Super Over — no boundary count. As many rounds of Super Overs as needed until one team wins. This was tested in November 2022 (Afghanistan vs Ireland T20I — three Super Overs needed). New Zealand's 2019 squad: despite the result, the New Zealand side was widely regarded as the 'moral' World Cup winners — having played the more technically correct cricket throughout the tournament. Williamson's post-match grace was universally praised.