World Cup 2019: Three reasons why New Zealand lost the final against England

The Lord’s Cricket Ground was the perfect host to probably the greatest cricket match in World Cup history as the hosts England registered their first-ever World Cup win with a thrilling win over New Zealand as part of the World Cup 2019.

Set a target of 242 to get on a greenish wicket, England lost the big wicket of Jason Roy early in the innings. He was followed back to the hut by Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, and Eoin Morgan. The trusted duo of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes then steadied the innnings with a wonderful 110-run partnership.

Some brilliant bowling from New Zealand ensured that England needed 24 runs from the last two overs. Trent Boult's misjudgement of a skier saw him step on the ropes after taking a catch after which a Martin Guptill throw from mid-wicket took a deflection off Ben Stokes' bat as England needed three runs off the last two balls.

Further, needing 2 runs from the last ball, England could only manage one as the game headed into a super over. Jos Buttler and Stokes smashed 15 runs from Trent Boult’s super over. In reply, Neesham got the Kiwi fans excited after hammering 14 runs from the first 5 balls. New Zealand needed 2 off the last ball but could eventually manage only single as Guptill was run out while trying to get back for a second.

With both teams tied on scores even at the end of the Super Over, England were declared as the champions based on having scored the most boundaries at the end of the game.

Earlier, Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bat first on a greenish strip. The visitors got off to a good start, notching up 100 runs with the loss of just one wicket. However, there was a middle overs slowdown courtesy some brilliant bowling from Liam Plunkett. New Zealand eventually huffed and puffed to a score of 241 runs.

Ben Stokes' half-century was the highlight for England as the finish to the World Cup 2019 was certainly beyond sensational. However, New Zealand ended up on the wrong side of the result and here, we have a look at 3 reasons why New Zealand lost the final.

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#3 Middle order falters

Liam Plunkett

After a promising start with the bat, New Zealand faltered very badly in the middle overs. The departure of Kane Williamson stopped the run supply. Boundaries were hard to come by and the cross-seam deliveries from Liam Plunkett did the trick for the hosts.

The Kiwi middle-order batsmen failed to up the tempo. The usually dependable Ross Taylor had an off day with the bat and notched up just 15 runs from 31 balls. The likes of Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme got starts but could not convert them into big scores. De Grandhomme, in particular, struggled with his timing all day.

Tom Latham did play a steady hand but he needed someone from the other end to go berserk which never really happened. New Zealand looked well placed to score in the range of 270-280 but the failure of their middle order saw them finishing with only 241 in the end.

#2 Death overs struggle

New Zeland lacked intent in death overs

New Zealand had struggled their way to 179/5 at the 40th over mark. Both Tom Latham and Colin de Grandhomme were set and the Kiwi fans were hoping for some fireworks in the death overs.

Unfortunately, that acceleration never came as the Kiwi batsmen were not able to score boundaries at the fag end of their innings. Jofra Archer was sensational at the death, giving away just 22 runs from his 5 overs.

His brilliant mix of fast and slower bouncers caused all sorts of problems to the Kiwis. He was well supported from the other end by Chris Woakes who picked up two crucial wickets. The well-set Latham was done in by a brilliant cutter from Woakes. Only 62 runs came from the last 10 overs.

More importantly, with the ball in hand, the New Zealand bowlers were unable to restrict the England batsmen, with pressure on the hosts. With 34 runs to get off the last three overs and ace pacer Trent Boult slated to bowl two of those overs, NZ could have well kept it tight.

However, Boult himself leaked 24 runs off his last two overs that gave England a ray of hope in the end.

#1 Inability to pick up wickets in the middle overs

Stokes and Buttler

New Zealand piled pressure on the hosts' batting order with some exceptional bowling at the top from Mark Henry, Colin de Grandhomme and Lockie Ferguson. Eoin Morgan fell to a brilliant catch from Lockie Ferguson off the bowling of Neesham. With the score at 86/4, New Zealand needed just one more wicket to virtually seal the game in their favor.

However, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler had some other plans as the duo put on a batting exhibition, adding 110 runs for the fifth wicket. Buttler, in particular, was very impressive, scoring 59 runs from just 60 balls.

When Buttler was new at the crease, Williamson should have ideally turned to his main bowlers but instead, he continued to persist with his all-rounders in de Grandhomme and Jimmy Neesham.

The Kiwi skipper might have missed a trick as these five overs from his medium pacers gave Buttler the time to get set at the crease that proved to make a difference in the end.