Let us now look at next set of cricket matches which left a marking impression on every cricket lovers’ minds. Now, lets see the matches ranked as #7, 6 and 5!
PART - 2
#7. England vs New Zealand - 2019 ICC ODI World Cup Final - Lord's England
Series : ICC ODI World Cup – 2019
Match : England vs New Zealand – Final
Venue : Lord’s, England
Date: July 14, 2019
The Setup
Cricket’s ultimate stage. Lord’s. Host nation England, the #1 ranked ODI side, chasing their first-ever World Cup trophy after 44 years of hurt. New Zealand, the quiet, dignified, and ruthlessly efficient underdogs, seeking their maiden title after the heartbreak of 2015. A low-scoring thriller was brewing.
The Gritty Foundation
NZ batted first on a tricky pitch. No fireworks, just relentless grit. Henry Nicholls (55) and Kane Williamson (30) anchored, but it was Tom Latham’s crucial 47 that pushed them to a modest, yet defendable 241/8. England’s bowlers (Woakes 3/37, Plunkett 3/42) squeezed brilliantly. Was it enough?
England’s Collapse & Hope:
England’s chase mirrored NZ’s struggle. Roy, Root, Morgan – key wickets fell. At 86/4, the dream was fading. Enter Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. Their 110-run partnership was pure tension – calculated aggression mixed with desperate defence. Buttler fell for 59, but Stokes soldiered on.
The Crucible: The Final Over (Needing 15 to Win)
Ball 1: Stokes smashes a massive six! 9 needed off 5.
Ball 2: Stokes scrambles 2. 7 off 4.
Ball 3: THE MOMENT. Stokes drills to deep mid-wicket, sprints back for two. As Martin Guptill’s throw rockets in, Stokes dives… and the ball deflects off his outstretched bat and races to the boundary! 6 runs (2 run + 4 overthrows). Pandemonium. Controversy. England get 6 runs from a ricochet. 3 needed off 2.
Ball 4: Stokes scrambles a single. Adil Rashid run out. 2 needed off 1 ball.
Ball 5: Stokes drags a single. Mark Wood run out. Scores are TIED (241). Lord’s is stunned. A World Cup Final had ended in a tie for the first time ever.
The Super Over: Unprecedented Drama:
NZ Bat First: Jimmy Neesham & Martin Guptill (cruelly cast as the potential villain) blast 15 runs off Jofra Archer. Including a huge Neesham six!
England’s Turn: Jos Buttler & Ben Stokes face Trent Boult. They match it – 15 runs! Stokes crushing the final ball to the boundary.
THE RULE: Scores tied in the Super Over? Boundary Countback. England hit 26 boundaries (24 fours, 2 sixes) to NZ’s 17 (14 fours, 3 sixes). England win on a technicality.
Why This Match is Etched in Memory:
Peak Sporting Theatre: It had EVERYTHING. Grit, collapse, partnership, freak incident (the deflection), a tie, a super over, another tie, and a bizarre rule deciding the trophy. Unscriptable.
Ben Stokes: The Hero & The Lightning Rod: His unbeaten 84* was Herculean. The deflection was pivotal (and debated endlessly). His Super Over composure. Redemption after the 2016 T20 Final heartbreak. Pure drama embodied.
New Zealand’s Agony: They didn’t lose; the trophy was taken by a rule almost nobody understood. Kane Williamson’s grace in defeat (“It’s not your fault, mate” to an apologetic Stokes) made them global darlings. The image of Guptill sprawled on the turf after being run out off the final Super Over ball is iconic pain.
The Rulebook Debate: “Boundary Countback” became infamous overnight. Was it fair? Should a Super Over replay? Should wickets lost matter? This match changed the rules for future ICC events (Super Over repeated until a winner, then countback).
The Soundtrack: Ian Bishop’s commentary: “England have won the World Cup by the barest of margins! By the barest of all margins! Absolute ecstasy for England! Agony, agony for New Zealand!” Chills. Every time.
Legacy: It cemented ODI cricket’s capacity for nerve-shredding tension. It made the Super Over a household term. It showcased sport’s cruelest and most glorious edges simultaneously. It sparked debates that rage on.
Some more details of from this epic match:
Have a look at the detailed full match scorecard here!
Full Match Highlights
The Epic Final Over
#6. India vs Pakistan - 2007 ICC T20 World Cup Final - Lord's England
Date : 24 September 2007
Venue : Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Match : Final, ICC Twenty20 World Cup – 2007
Result : India beat Pakistan by 5 runs
Act I: A Rivalry Rekindled in a New Format
It was more than a cricket match — it was a cultural reset. Just two weeks after a thrilling bowl-out against each other in the group stages, arch-rivals India and Pakistan met again, this time for the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup final.
India, led by a young Mahendra Singh Dhoni with flowing locks, had stunned the world by toppling giants with an experimental squad. Pakistan, under the fiery Shoaib Malik, had carved a parallel path of dominance, featuring a red-hot Misbah-ul-Haq, Afridi’s fireworks, and Umar Gul’s yorker factory.
“We never thought this team would make it to the final, but we had belief.” – Rohit Sharma, on India’s squad selection.
Act II: The Toss, the Start, and the Gambhir Anchor
India won the toss and chose to bat first on a hard pitch with a dry outfield — classic Wanderers. Gautam Gambhir, true to his steely persona, absorbed the pressure like a sponge. He scored a vital 75 off 54, striking fearlessly against Gul and Tanvir.
“I was in a zone that day — I didn’t even realize I was in the 70s.” – Gautam Gambhir
India stumbled a bit in the middle overs, but a late surge from Rohit Sharma (30 off 16)* ensured they crossed 150. The scoreboard read 157/5 — competitive, not overwhelming.
Act III: The Misbah Show & The Over That Changed It All
Pakistan’s chase began erratically. RP Singh’s deadly swing removed Hafeez and Kamran early. Irfan Pathan and Joginder Sharma, the most unlikely of heroes, stifled the middle order.
Still, Misbah-ul-Haq stood tall, crafting a lone warrior’s innings. He brought the game down to 13 runs needed off the final over. One over. One wicket. One trophy.
“I was not nervous. I just told Joginder to bowl to his field.” – MS Dhoni, recalling the final moments.
With Misbah on strike and 6 runs needed from 4 balls, he attempted a scoop — and mistimed it.
Sreesanth under the ball. Time froze. The catch was taken.
India had done it.
Act IV: Tears, Roars, and a New Captain Rising
Dhoni, emotionless as ever, just smiled. The team rushed in. Sreesanth screamed. Yuvraj and Bhajji ran with flags. The Indian dressing room erupted into a cauldron of tears, laughter, and disbelief.
“That night, we knew we had started something big.” – Yuvraj Singh
Pakistan, meanwhile, stood stunned. Misbah was inconsolable. In that loss, he became a national hero for his bravery.
Why This Match Still Matters
It wasn’t just a title win — it was the start of a legacy. It marked India’s arrival in T20 cricket, sparked the birth of the IPL, and gave us Captain Cool.
A night where a billion dreams danced, and a team of daredevils carved their name into cricketing history.
Some more details of from this epic match:
Have a look at the detailed full match scorecard here!
Full Match Highlights
The Epic Catch by Sreesanth
#5. West Indies vs. England, 2016 T20 World Cup Final: Braithwaite 4 sixes
Date : 3 April 2016
Venue : Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Result : West Indies beat England by 4 wickets
Moment : Four consecutive sixes in the final over
Act I : Redemption in the Air
It was more than a final — it was a mission. The West Indies team walked into Eden Gardens bearing the weight of disrespect, underfunding, and a point to prove. Wearing their maroon jerseys like armor, they were not just chasing a trophy — they were chasing validation.
England, on the other hand, had rebuilt themselves since their 2015 ODI World Cup disaster. With Eoin Morgan’s cool leadership, Joe Root’s class, and a rejuvenated white-ball setup, they were on the brink of redemption.
“We were written off. But we believed.” – Darren Sammy, West Indies captain
Act II: England Sets the Stage
England batted first. Joe Root was majestic — scoring 54 off 36, steadying the innings after a rocky start. But the West Indies bowlers, especially Dwayne Bravo and Carlos Brathwaite, kept chipping away.
From 110/4 in 14 overs, England could only manage 155/9 in their 20 overs. It was competitive, but on a flat Eden surface under lights, it didn’t feel safe.
“We thought we were 10–15 runs short.” – Eoin Morgan
Act III : Collapse, Hope & Chaos
West Indies’ chase began horribly. Jason Roy and Joe Root bowled the first two overs — and Root even took two wickets, including Chris Gayle and Charles. At 11/3, it looked like England had one hand on the trophy.
Then came Marlon Samuels — cold as ice, eyes set on redemption from 2012. He counterattacked, swatted short balls, and anchored from one end. His 85 off 66* was a lone rebellion.
But wickets kept tumbling. The required rate rose. It came down to 19 runs needed off 6 balls. Ben Stokes had the ball. Carlos Brathwaite was on strike.
Act IV : “Remember the Name”
Ball 1: SIX – Over Deep Square Leg
Ball 2: SIX – Over deep midwicket
Ball 3: SIX – Straight into the stands over long-off. Stokes on his knees!
Ball 4: SIX – Over deep midwicket
Game over.
The Eden Gardens exploded. Brathwaite collapsed on the pitch. Samuels threw his bat in celebration. England stood frozen.
“Carlos Brathwaite! Carlos Brathwaite! Remember the name!” – Ian Bishop’s voice broke the airwaves
Act V: More Than a Trophy
West Indies became the first team to win two T20 World Cups. But the moment became bigger than cricket.
In the post-match speech, Darren Sammy lashed out at the West Indies board:
“We had issues, but we played for the people of the Caribbean… every island.”
“This is for the fans. For those who believed when no one else did.”
The women’s team and U19 team had also won their respective World Cups — it was a triple crown moment.
Some more details of from this epic match:
Have a look at the detailed full match scorecard here!
Full Match Highlights
The superb last over and Bishop's epic - "Remember the name.."
This was the end of Part – 2 ! Have a look at the cricket matches that we have ranked as top 4 in Part – 3, or revisit the matches ranked as #10, 9, 8 on Part – 1 using the below buttons.
