A final to remember

London: England found cricketing bliss by dint of divine intervention and Ben Stokes’ brilliance, cracking a code that proved indecipherable for 44 years as history sliced through teary-eyed New Zealand’s grasp in a final that will be remembered for ages.

England won it via Super Over on boundary count.

The game twisted this way and that till the very last ball, and beyond. Fittingly enough, the finale, inarguably the most gripping in the tournament’s history, unfolded in a venue that is stepped in history.

In the end, it was England’s superior boundary count 22 fours and two sixes compared 16 by New Zealand that saw the ‘Cup’ finally coming to its spiritual home.

It was a good final delivery from Barbados-born Jofra Archer and Stokes’ steely performance in a tricky 242-run chase that sent 60 percent of those present at the Lord’s into raptures.

The other 40 percent had tears in their eyes for 11 committed souls who put their everything on the line. They did everything required from them but yet finished second best for the second time in four years.

The Indians cried, so did the Pakistanis and the Afghans; they wanted to see crickets nicest men come first. It didn’t happen, but they played a final to remember.

Batting second in Super Overs is always tough and even tougher if Archer is the bowler at the other end. Jeemy Neesham had other ideas as he got 14 but Archer’s final delivery on the blockhole saw Martin Guptill failed to complete a second run.