The 2019 Cricket World Cup Final: Super Over, Boundaries Rule, and Controversy
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand is considered one of the greatest and most controversial matches ever played. Tied on runs and then tied on the Super Over, England won on boundary count — a rule widely criticised and later changed. This guide covers everything that happened.
On 14 July 2019 at Lord's Cricket Ground, England and New Zealand played a World Cup final that ended in circumstances never seen before and never to be repeated. The match tied. The Super Over also tied. England were declared winners because they had hit more boundaries during the full match. The ICC later changed the rule.
The Match
New Zealand batted first and scored 241 for 8. England chased brilliantly but also finished on 241 — tied. This had never happened in a World Cup final. Ben Stokes scored a crucial 84 not out, including a moment where a throw from the boundary deflected off his bat for an inadvertent six (four overthrows + two from the throw = six runs) — a controversial incident that the umpires correctly applied the rules to award.
The Super Over
In the Super Over, New Zealand scored 15 from Jofra Archer's over — a daunting target. England needed 16 off 6 balls with Stokes and Jos Buttler batting. They also scored 15, tying again. Under the rules then in force, the team with more boundaries in the entire match (including the Super Over) won. England had hit 26 boundaries; New Zealand had hit 17. England were declared World Cup champions.
New Zealand's Reaction
The New Zealand players and captain Kane Williamson handled the defeat with extraordinary grace. Williamson said he was proud of his team and acknowledged England's quality. Martin Guptill, who had hit the throw that deflected for six, was particularly dignified. The manner of New Zealand's defeat won them enormous global sympathy and respect.
Rule Change
The ICC immediately faced criticism for the boundary-count tiebreaker. Critics argued it was an unfair way to determine a World Cup winner — teams might deliberately hit more boundaries at the expense of runs. In 2019, the ICC changed the rule. If a Super Over now ties, another Super Over is played until a winner is decided by runs scored, not boundaries.
Legacy
The 2019 final transformed English cricket. Ben Stokes became the defining player of England's next generation. The team's aggressive 'Bazball' Test approach was built on the confidence and belief generated by this World Cup win. For New Zealand, the defeat inspired a determined revival — they won the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2019 Cricket World Cup?
England won the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, defeating New Zealand in the final at Lord's on boundary count after both the match and the Super Over ended in ties.
Was the 2019 World Cup final controversial?
Yes — the use of boundary count to decide the Super Over tie was widely criticised as an unfair method of determining a World Cup winner. The ICC changed the rule shortly after.
What is a Super Over in cricket?
A Super Over is a one-over eliminator used in limited-overs cricket when the scores are tied at the end of a match. Each team faces one over, and the team scoring more runs wins.