The 2019 World Cup came to a dramatic end after England pipped New Zealand in a controversial super over to take the crown. Both the teams were level at 241 runs at the end of 50 overs and the match went into the super over. Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes scored 15 runs for England and New Zealand were given a target of 16 runs.
The Kiwi team got off to a great start as they scored 9 runs in the starting two deliveries courtesy James Neesham to ease the pressure. They scored 5 runs off next three balls that brought the equation to 2 off 1 ball. Martin Guptill whipped the ball in front of the deep square fielder- Jason Roy and hurried for the second run but eventually fell short.
After super-overs tie, England were adjudged the winner as they scored more boundaries than New Zealand in the course of 50 overs.
Some impressive performance by the players
The show piece event turned out to be career defining moment for some of the cricketers. Bangladesh’s Shakib-Al-Hasan put a great show and scored 606 runs and picked 11 wickets in 8 innings. India’s Rohit Sharma emerged as the highest run scorer with 648 runs in 9 innings at an average of 81.00 which also includes the historic five tons.
New Zealand’s low lying batting line-up was strengthened by Kane Williamson, who scored 578 runs in 9 innings and emerged as the man of the tournament.
In the bowling department, Mitchell Starc continued to deliver and picked 27 wickets in 10 innings. New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson redefined the pace bowling as he picked most number of wickets in the middle overs. He finished with 21 wickets in nine innings. Yuzvendra Chahal emerged as the highest wicket taker amongst the spinners and finished with 12 wickets in eight innings.
Sanjay Manjrekar picks the best 11 of the tournament
As the World Cup came to its conclusion, former cricketers started picking their best XI of the tournament and joining the trend was former India cricketer turned commentator- Sanjay Manjrekar.
The 54-year-old picked the leading run scorer of the tournament- Rohit Sharma as one of his opener and he will be accompanied by England’s Jason Roy. Roy created some match winning performance and scored 443 runs in 7 innings, while Rohit emerged as the highest run scorer of the tournament with 648 runs in nine innings.
Manjrekar picked Shakib-Al-Hasan at number three, who emerged as the top performer for Bangladesh with 606 runs in just 8 innings and also chipped with 11 wickets. He was promoted up the order at number three in the World Cup, which helped Bangladesh’s cause as his lowest score in the show piece was 41 which came against Australia.
At number four, he picked Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who scored 443 runs in nine innings with five consecutive fifties but failed to create an impact in the knockout stage of an ICC event yet again.
Man of the tournament- Kane Williamson(578 runs in 9 innings) was given the responsibility to bat at number five and he will be followed by Australia’s promising wicket-keeper batsman Alex Carey, who showed intent in the lower middle order and his heroics have won him a place in Manjrekar’s team. He scored 375 runs in eight innings for the Aussies.
Interestingly, Manjrekar picked New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner as the only spinner in his team. The Kiwi off-spinner picked just 6 wickets in the tournament but impressed in the semi-final clash against India where he picked two crucial wickets of Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant and gave away just 34 runs.
Mitchell Starc(27 wickets) will lead the pace bowling attack alongside India’s Jasprit Bumrah, who picked 18 wickets in 9 innings. Jofra Archer kept his nerves in the super over of the World Cup finals to win the trophy for England. He impressed one and all by picking 20 wickets in 11 innings and finished at the third spot in the list of highest wicket takers. He also finds a place in Manjrekar’s team. Pakistan’s Shaheed Afridi also finds a place in his team.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s World Cup 11
Rohit Sharma, Jason Roy, Shakib Al Hasan, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Alex Carey(wicket-keeper), Mitchell Santner, Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, Jofra Archer, Shaheen Afridi.
