Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett Starred with the ball as England restricted New Zealand to 241/8 after the latter won the toss and opted to bat first in the final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Plunkett took 3/42, while Woakes finished with figures of 3/37 as England set themselves a 242-run target to lift their first World Cup trophy in their cricketing history. Henry Nicholls, who scored his maiden CWC 2019 half-century, was the top-scorer for the Black Caps.  New Zealand vs England Live Cricket Score ICC World Cup 2019 Final Match.

His three-wicket haul also made Plunkett the bowler to have taken the second highest number of wickets in the middle period (11-40 overs) of an innings in CWC 2019. Plunkett now has 10 wickets to his name in the middle overs – and 11 wickets overall in CWC 2019. His scalps included half-centurion Henry Nicholls (55), Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson (30) and James Neesham (19). New Zealand vs England Live Cricket Score Final ODI Match.

Meanwhile, New Zealand other than a 74-run partnership for the second wicket between Nicholls and Williamson, failed to stitch regular partnerships with most of England’s bowlers chipping in with wickets. Plunkett especially was the chief tormentor for the Black Caps with three of the four wickets in the middle period coming to him. This was after Woakes ensured Guptill’s woeful CWC 2019 continued with a jaffa that caught the tall New Zealand opener plumb in-front of the wicket.

Woakes, who together with Jofra Archer (1/42) has been brilliant for the hosts in the opening overs almost had Nicholls in the fourth over but a successful review saved the Kiwis after umpire Kumar Dharmasena had raised his finger for an LBW appeal. The English all-rounder finished with three wickets to his name, which other than Guptill’s wicket included scalps of Colin de Grandhomme (16) and (Tom Latham (47).

The Black Caps made run-a-ball in the final 10 overs frequent loss of wickets kept them off the track and prevented any batsman from going big in the final stages of the innings. But their strong bowling attack would give Kane Williamson’s men enough hopes, especially after the manner they toppled India to reach the final. Written off after making 239 all-out in a rain-curtailed inning, New Zealand kept India under 221 runs to clinch a thriller in the semis.

England though successfully chased 223 runs against Australia in the semis and with the fiery form that openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow are in, the hosts will be confident of chasing 242 down and lift their maiden World Cup title. New Zealand are also chasing their first title.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 14, 2019 07:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).