Cricket World Cup: England beat New Zealand after final super over

England’s cricketers wrote their names into the history books at Lord’s, winning their first World Cup title in a final that will go down as one of the most dramatic ever produced in team sport.

It seemed as though nothing could separate them from New Zealand, with the sides battling to an unprecedented tie, both sides locked on 241 after 100 overs of nerve-shredding tension that cast Ben Stokes as the home side’s hero of the hour.

That paved the way for a super over, a six-ball shoot-out that had only occurred 11 times in international history and never before in an ODI.

Incredibly, the teams went blow-for-blow once again, Stokes and Jos Buttler hitting 15 off Trent Boult before Jofra Archer conceded 14 off his first five deliveries.

The Barbados-born bowler, the least experienced player on either side, held his nerve as Martin Guptill forced the ball into the off-side and came back for a second that would have taken the trophy.

Enter Jason Roy, who picked up cleanly despite unimaginable pressure and hurled a flat, decisive throw towards Buttler, who scattered the stumps as Guptill scrambled.

Tied once again, England triumphed on account of boundaries scored, a technocratic decider in a contest that proved impossible to settle any other way.

Tweet of the (yester)day

Archer’s past utterances on the social networking site have led to some mirth – there is seemingly a Jofra tweet for every available occasion. And an unforgettable World Cup final was no different.

Snap shot

Stat attack

After 44 years of hurt and three previous final losses, England are finally top of the world. That they won a first global 50-over title in such compelling and heart-stopping fashion means cricket is ultimately the winner. A finish that almost guarantees talk around the water cooler in many an office up and down the land.

Wood clocks on

Guptill wasted review costly for Taylor

Too shot to handle

Money ball