SM
Friday, November 8
Upcoming predictions and previews

Ben Stokes: 'There will never be a better game than World Cup final win'

:Headline: Ben Stokes: 'There will never be a better game than World Cup final win': ID:364996: from db_amp
England enjoyed an epic victory over New Zealand that left Stokes feeling there will never 'be a better game of cricket than that'.

Man-of-the-match Ben Stokes hailed England's dramatic World Cup final victory over New Zealand as the best game in cricket history.

After the match was tied at the end of the 50 overs, underpinned by Stokes' unbeaten 84, England then beat New Zealand in the super over courtesy of striking more boundaries throughout the course of the entire game

An exhausted Stokes told Sky Sports: "I'm pretty lost for words. All that hard work for four years and now to be stood here as champions of the world, it's an amazing feeling.

"This is where we aspired to be and to manage to come here and do it in such a good game, I don't think there will ever be a better game of cricket in history than that.

"Playing against New Zealand is always tough, they're a seriously good team. We had some luck at times and I said to Kane (Williamson) that I will be apologising for what happened for the rest of my life."

Stokes was referring to an incident late in the final over of the 50 which saw him diving to beat Martin Guptill's throw, inadvertently steering the ball to the ropes for four runs.

Stokes reacts after the ball hits his bat during the final over. (Nick Potts/PA)

Stokes and Jos Buttler resumed for the historic super over, both hitting a boundary as they set a winning target of 16.

Despite conceding a six to Jimmy Neesham in his super over, Jofra Archer bowled superbly given the pressure on the 24-year-old's shoulders.

Stokes added: "There was no chance I wasn't going to be there at the end.

"It's moments like that you live for as a professional cricketer and the new kid on the block, Jofra Archer, I backed him all the way.

"The talent he's got is incredible, and he's showed it on the world stage."

England captain Eoin Morgan praised both his own players and those of New Zealand following an epic final.

"There wasn't a lot in that game," said Morgan.

"I'd like to congratulate New Zealand for the way they played. The spirit and fight they showed are worth aspiring to, and the example they lead is commendable.

"We were up against it but Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes put together a partnership that we really needed.

"This has been a four-year journey and we have developed a lot over those four years, but particularly in the last two.

"We find it hard to play on wickets like that – as many good teams around the world do – but it was about playing cricket to get over the line and we managed to do that and it means the world to us."

After being named the player of the tournament, New Zealand captain Williamson said: "To lose by one run is tough.

"There are so many parts of that match that could have gone either way. But congratulations to England, they've had a fantastic campaign and they deserve the victory."

amp_article__364996 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-07-14 21:46:56:
html db last update - 2019-07-14 21:46:56 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Ben Stokes

Click here for more stories about New Zealand

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .