RNZ's award-winning reporter Ravinder Hunia was at Lord's for the 2019 Cricket World cup final. These are her notes as the unrivalled drama unfolded.
Scenes from the extraordinary final at the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Photo: Photosport / AFP
Location: Lord's Cricket Ground, London
Weather conditions: Light rain this morning, still a lot of cloud about… a cool 16 degrees with an expected high of 23 throughout the day.
Stadium is quickly filling up, a mix of supporters in the crowd. It may be an England/ NZ grand final, but plenty of shirts from all countries being worn.
New Zealand are in the final but four of the seven reporters here are seated outside in overflow seats; we were complaining until we saw our view - best seats in the house!
And we have the Red Devils jumping out of a plane landing on the fields behind us, plane flying right over our heads.
The match has been delayed by 15 minutes, but the toss is about to get under way - NZ win the toss! Kane chooses to bat.
The capacity for Lord's is 30,000, seats continue to fill; there's a lot of Kiwi support about.
The Cricket World Cup trophy is being carried onto the pitch… I have just realised how much is on the line here, a chance to make history for both sides. I, along with all NZ media, sing the NZ national anthem with everything we have.
Opener Martin Guptill hits a four, he hasn't scored that many runs in a match for a while - good sign!
3rd Over: This game has it all already! Two NOT outs (one umpire call, 1 review) and a six.
England fans not impressed. The loudest fans in the crowd? INDIA (still) "Indiaaaaa India!"
Read more of RNZ'S Cricket World Cup final coverage:
7th over: Guptill's run is over, out for 19 runs
9th over: So quiet at the grounds, almost like watching golf before they take a swing… score is 31/1.
I wonder how Williamson is finding that batting surface.
Wimbledon men's final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic is on soon, not one mention of the match in commentary #tensetimes
13th over: NZ hit 50 runs Lord's has turned on the music today! NZ hit a 4, Sia's Titanium is played (yeah it was).
Barmy Army take over the singing with the old Beatles hit Twist and Shout aimed at fast bowler Mark Wood… "Shake it up Woody now (shake it up Woody) bowl them out.. (Bowl them all out).
England bowler Mark Wood celebrates after dismissing Ross Taylor. Photo: AFP
19th over: Willamson and Nicholls reach a 50-run partnership. Score is 54/1 - NZ fans are flying their flags…. All 3 of them lol. Indian reporter next to me says New Zealand aren't scoring enough runs… what does he know.
21st over: New Zealand hit 100 runs and the sun starts to shine.
23rd over: Captain Williamson caught and bowled for 30 runs - big wicket for England… Ross Taylor enters the fray with the score at 103/2.
25th over: Nicholls marches on to hit 50-run mark.
Indian and Pakistan reporters next to me querying why we NZ reporters are sitting outside in overflow seats, why aren't we inside as our country is playing? - "Good question." I replied.
33rd over: It was slowly but steady, but Taylor is gone for 15 (lbw) at the hand of Wood to the English fans' delight. Another HUGE wicket for the home side. The crowd is still pretty calm though? Is this normal at England games?
Imagine the pressure on Tom Latham's shoulder's right now to close this innings out on a competitive score… A quiet cheer from the stands as NZ make 200 runs.
Three wides from prized bowler Jofra Archer met with a lot of boos. Only one England player I can see with grass stains on his knees is Liam Plunkett…what are the rest of you doing?
47th over: de Grandhomme caught out for 16, every time the sun comes out we lose a wicket… score is 223/6. Interesting stat: Colin de Grandhomme out for 16 which means the highest score by a Zimbabwe-born in WC Finals is still Graeme Hick's 17 in WC 1992.
Indian great Sachin Tendulkar spotted by our stand, I took a paparazzi pic of course.
50 overs done, NZ post a total of 241/8.
6th over: As quickly as the second innings starts, the wicket of Jason Roy is picked up bowled by Trent Boult. Sorry not sorry by Demi Lovato being played… a bit harsh I thought (not sorry.)
A huge cry from the stands… Another streaker! Heard over the radio that she was tackled early and didn't make the pitch.
13th over: Slow and steady for Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root now. England on 42/1 - 8 fours so far.
16th over: ROOOOOOOOOOOOT the crowd cry (that's almost a boo) as he walks off the pitch - c & b by de Grandhomme.
Lockie Ferguson, right, celebrates taking a catch to dismiss the England skipper Eoin Morgan. Photo: AFP
Reporter beside me says the Indian team is still in England after losing the semi-final. They aren't quite sure what to expect when they return home. Indian fans in the crowd chanting "India will win." Followed by "Bole Son-eh- ha… Sat Sri akal" - In India this chant is equivalent to Māori Tihei Mauri Ora.
19th over: Jonny Bairstow clean bowled. Lockie Ferguson strikes!! Score is 71/3.
Flicking through websites and social media pages for stats & updates and realise HOW important it is for sport communication now? Could you imagine sport without social media now?
Read a message: "Is it time to call the Blackcaps the All Caps yet?" Hahaha. What about now? Captain Eoin Morgan caught for 9 runs! Jimmy Neesham the bowler but the outstanding catch is taken in the outfield by Lockie Ferguson. The press box is on its feet. Uproar. England 86/4.
Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler caused the Kiwis some problems with their steady partnership. Photo: AFP
This partnership between Stokes and Buttler causing New Zealand some problems, but it has woken up the English fans! Sweet Caroline is playing. This is starting to get worrying now - Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler seem to be steering England to victory.
And then…and then…..oh my gosh…..it's a tie. Scores are tied at 241 each. What happens now?
Details of the "super over" are flashed up on the screen at the ground. But not for long. Everyone a bit hazy on the details. One over to score as many runs as possible.
Tense. This is really tense. Final ball. Jofra Archer to Martin Guptill. Guptill hits to leg, takes one, turns for two. He's out! Run out. Scores are tied again; 15 each.
The English team is celebrating. They are hugging, running. The crowd is quiet. No-one knows what is going on. What is going on? England fans unsure if England have won. Has New Zealand lost?
Chaos. People are asking each other, what is going on? Who won? People have no idea. England team out on the field celebrating.
And now fireworks. England must have won. Word filters down that the deciding factor is the number of boundaries each side has hit. The game has been a tie. The super over has been a tie. England win on boundaries.
Now the England fans are starting to go nuts. The Black Caps look dejected, shocked. Mass celebrations now. England have won the Cricket World Cup - on boundaries.
Pandemonium.