ICC World Cup 2019: Final, NZ v ENG – New Zealand Player Ratings

Martin Guptill didn’t score many runs before this game and was surely under great pressure. The Kiwi opener, however, came out with positive intent. He hit a six over the third man and also smashed two boundaries. However, the 32-year-old couldn’t stick around for a long time. Guptill was trapped by Chris Woakes LBW after he scored 19 runs 0ff 18 balls.

Henry Nicholls – 8.5/10

The conditions weren’t easy to bat early in the game. The ball was swinging and Henry Nicholls didn’t have many runs behind him before this game. Yet, he showed great composure and applied himself beautifully. The left-hander took some time but scored 55 valuable runs for his team. He also hit four boundaries during his knock.

Kane Williamson – 7/10

Kane Williamson had a lot of responsibility and had to ensure that he got a big score. The Kiwi skipper played a few dot balls and looked to be in decent touch. However, he edged one when he was batting on 30 and that carried straight to the wicket-keeper. The on-field decision was overturned after England took the review.

Ross Taylor – 3/10

Ross Taylor suffered a huge failure in this crucial game. Being one of the most experienced players in the side, the 35-year-old should have got a big score. He tried to dig deep in and played 30 balls. On the 31st ball that he faced, Mark Wood trapped Taylor LBW for 15 runs.

Tom Latham – 9/10

From New Zealand’s perspective, Tom Latham played a gem of a knock for them under pressure. He made a massive difference towards the end and helped New Zealand get to a defendable total. The wicket-keeper scored 47 runs off only 56 balls and was great behind the stumps as well. He levelled the record of Adam Gilchrist for most dismissals as a wicket-keeper in a World Cup.

James Neesham – 9/10

James Neesham couldn’t get a huge score with the bat. He perished after accumulating 19 runs off 25 balls. But with the ball, he was nothing less than exceptional. The all-rounder bowled at the death of the innings and executed the plans perfectly. In the 7 overs that he bowled, he only conceded 43 runs at an economy rate just over 6. Moreover, he picked up the wickets of Eoin Morgan, Liam Plunkett and Jofra Archer. He almost won the super over for New Zealand but the luck was not with them.

Colin de Grandhomme – 8/10

Colin de Grandhomme struggled with the bat and crawled his way to 16 runs off 28 balls. With the ball, though, he was absolutely miserly. He hardly gave away any runs and hit brilliant lines and lengths. Two of the ten overs that he bowled were maidens and he only conceded 25 runs. He also got the big scalp of Joe Root.

Mitchell Santner – 1.5/10

Mitchell Santner didn’t have much to do in this game. He wasn’t given the ball until the end of the 30th over of the second innings. The southpaw bowled just three overs where he conceded 11 runs. He also executed the run-out of Adil Rashid in the last over of the innings under great pressure.

Matt Henry – 7/10

Matt Henry dismissed the dangerous Jason Roy early in the England innings. Given the kind of form that he’s been in of late, this was a huge, huge wicket. Henry didn’t bowl towards the end of the innings much. He bowled his quota of 10 overs way earlier and conceded 40 runs.

Trent Boult – 9.5/10

Trent Boult – take a bow. The left-arm pacer had to bowl two overs out of the last three and oh boy, how well did he do. If not for the overthrow that went for another four runs in the last over, Boult would have won New Zealand the World Cup all by himself. The 29-year-old might have gone for 67 runs in his 10 overs. He might not have picked up a single wicket. But to execute under that sort of pressure was something truly remarkable.

Lockie Ferguson – 9.5/10

Lockie Ferguson bowled his heart out in this match. His fine form in the tournament continued as he picked up another three-wicket haul in the tournament. However, he’d be gutted that his efforts went in vain. Ferguson bagged the wickets of Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes.