World Cup 2019: 3 most defining moments for each team in this tournament

New Zealand

The brutal deflection from Ben Stokes bat was the most defining moment of the tournament

#1 Kane Williamson’s century against South Africa

New Zealand won an important league match against South Africa at Edgbaston. The New Zealand captain Kane Williamson scored an unbeaten century and New Zealand reached the target with just 3 balls to spare. It was one of the closest contests of the tournament and in the end, it was the patience and cool-headed approach of the New Zealand captain which saved the day for New Zealand.

#2 Martin Guptill’s direct hit to dismiss MS Dhoni

In the semi-final, after the early loss of wickets, Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni brought India back into the game. India needed 25 runs off 10 balls with Dhoni at the wicket. With Dhoni around, anything was possible.MSD was standing in the way between New Zealand and a place in the final. It was the most defining moment for both the teams. That was when New Zealand’s best fielder Martin Guptill hit the bull’s eye and caught Dhoni short of the crease by an inch. New Zealand marched onto the final of World Cup 2019.

#3 The brutal deflection in the last over of the final

England needed 15 runs off the last over of the tournament bowled by Trent Boult. For England, Ben Stokes was on strike. Boult started off with two dot balls. Stokes connected the third ball which sailed over mid-wicket for a six. Now 9 runs were needed off 3 balls. That was when the unthinkable happened.

A throw from Martin Guptill from the deep deflected off Ben Stokes bat to go for 4 overthrows. Ben Stokes was not at fault as it was purely accidental. Had the ball not crossed the boundary, Stokes would not have taken the extra run. But as it turned out, England got four bonus runs which turned out to be the most defining moment of the tournament. But for that deflected overthrow, New Zealand would have been the world champions. That overthrow took the game to the super-over where England won on boundary count.