This day last year: When Ben Stokes proved to be a little difference and steered England to World Cup glory

Tyrion Lannister in his very final monologue in the very final moments of the very final episode of the very final season of Game Thrones said, “There’s nothing in the world more powerful than a good story”. The 2019 Cricket World Cup is, without an iota of doubt, a good story that remains unmatched in its sheer grandeur.

Last year’s 50 over World Cup in England and Wales saw many jaw-dropping matches, but none so dramatic than the final itself. People in the past had reservations against one-sided finals but the match on 14th of July 2019 more than compensated for all that as we were witness to the most thrilling, nerve-shattering, heartbreaking One-day international of all time.

An unexpected tournament

It started with Imran Tahir becoming the first spinner to start the proceedings in a World Cup and finished with Jos Butler taking the bails off to dismiss Martin Guptill on the final ball of the super over. In a nutshell, the events of a month and a half from 30th of May to the 14th of July 2019 didn’t go as anyone in the cricketing world expected. Then again, it’s cricket- the game of glorious uncertainties.

The World Cup wasn’t a high scoring tournament like everyone expected. Barring a few games here and there, it was like the 90s where scores in the range of 240-250 were proving difficult to chase.

England wasn’t expected to scrape their way to the knock out stages. They were the favourites, for God’s sake. They weren’t supposed to be defeated by Pakistan. They had just beaten the Asian nation 4/0 in a 5 match ODI in the lead up to the Global event.

Above all, Sri Lanka wasn’t expected to upset the hosts. No one expected India being hustled by Afghanistan, which if not for Mohammad Shami’s hat-trick was a match gone from India’s grasps. It still beggars belief how India jumbled a 241 run chase despite being the best team in the tournament.

The road to the final

England came in the World Cup after playing wonderful (brutal and dominant) cricket over the last four years. With the addition of Jofra Archer in what already looked a formidable side, they were firm favourites to win the trophy.

After faltering in the group stage, they came back into their own when they defeated India and New Zealand on the trot, booking their spot in the semi-final. In the penultimate fight for glory, they simply outclasses the Aussies and went one step closer to the ‘Crown Jewel of Cricket’.

New Zealand on the other hand, were almost everyone’s third or fourth favourites after India, England and probably Australia. After just edging out South Africa and West Indies in consecutive thrillers, they beat India in the second semi-final to go to Lord’s to achieve what they missed four years ago – the all-important Cricket World Cup.

Before the starting of the World Cup Carnival, if anyone had told you of an England-New Zealand final, opting for the latter would have put you in minority. But the way New Zealand played in the tournament, led by the ever-smiling and graceful Kane Williamson, the gap had subsided significantly.

The final day of the showpiece event

After 44 days and 47 matches, the moment finally came. For the first time in 23 years, a new World Champion was to be crowned. 14th of July 2019, it was a day like any other in the city of London but what transpired that day at Lord’s was something no one had ever seen or comprehended before. For all the drama and the mind-boggling climax, it could very well challenge Hitchcock’s finest thrillers.

In the final, after the fall of Williamson, New Zealand’s innings never really took off and were restricted to 241 in 50 overs. However, they had belief in themselves, especially after defending a sub-par score against India, and were high on confidence.

England started the chase well, lost control in between, then took the steering wheel and again were jolted with a flurry of wickets. Just as New Zealand was heading to victory, Ben Stokes rose to the occasion and took the game to the super over.

After the super over also ended in a tie, it felt like the word ‘inseparable’ had found a new example. Going into the details won’t do any good as it as already been enough dwelled upon. In the end, Ben Stokes proved to be a little difference that there was. As Ian Smith, a Kiwi himself, called it on the live telecast, it was ‘absolute ecstasy for England. Agony, agony for New Zealand.’

Discontented as many people might be, it was only fair that England won the World Cup on boundary count, for their trademark in the last couple of years has been a fearless brand of cricket, something they adopted after their poor show in the 2015 edition.

Kane Williamson lost the silverware but won millions of hearts

For New Zealand, it just wasn’t meant to be. In hindsight, they will always rue their missed chances– Mitchell Santner ducking on the last ball of the first innings and not even going for a bye, Trent Boult— one of the acclaimed fielders in the deep, stepping on the boundary skirting while taking a catch and giving Ben Stokes a life and England its maiden World Champion Title. The famous (or infamous) four byes will also find a mention whenever the World Cup will be discussed

The ICC have now changed the rules in the event of a tied super over. But does it really matter? Ask this to Martin Guptill who sat there on the ground, almost in tears. Ask this to Kane Williamson, who hid all his pain under his charming smile.

Ask this to the 5 million New Zealanders, who were dealt with the loss of a second consecutive World Cup Final. Ask this to the billions of people whose hearts Williamson and his team won in that World Cup and especially on that fateful day.