Plunkett, Woakes help England restrict New Zealand to 241-8

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson in action. Photo: Reuters

LONDON: Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes led a controlled bowling display as an impressive England attack restricted New Zealand to a below-par 241 for eight wickets in the Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s on Sunday.

Henry Nicholls made 55 and Tom Latham scored 47 but England’s bowlers struck at crucial and regular junctures to deny the 2015 finalists big partnerships in a contest which will produce new 50-over world champions.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss under an overcast sky and elected to bat after both sides retained the same XI from their contrasting semi-final victories.

Woakes, who ended with a hugely impressive 3-37, began with a wide but was celebrating a success in his next over when Nicholls, yet to open his account, was adjudged lbw.

The opener reviewed and successfully got the decision overturned after replays suggested the ball would have sailed over the stumps.

Martin Guptill had gone without a fifty since the opener against Sri Lanka and he decided to hit his way out of the rut.

The right-hander smashed Jofra Archer for a six with an audacious upper-cut but Woakes trapped him lbw with a length ball.

Nicholls and Williamson batted with a clear intention to preserve wickets on a pitch that looked difficult for quick scoring.

Nicholls’ calculated aggression dovetailed perfectly with Williamson’s risk-free accumulation in their 74-run stand that took New Zealand past the 100-mark in the 22nd over.

Plunkett (3-42) was lurking in the corner, however, with a two-wicket spell of largely back-of-a-length cross-seam deliveries that swung the match back in England’s favour.

He induced an edge from Williamson which went unnoticed by umpire Kumar Dharmasena. England challenged the not-out decision and got Williamson caught behind for 30.

Nicholls completed his fifty but could not press on. Too cramped to play the backfoot drive, he still went ahead with the shot and edged it onto his stumps to depart after his first 50 of the tournament.

Mark Wood then trapped Ross Taylor lbw with a delivery which would have sailed over the stumps but New Zealand had blown their review on Guptill.

Latham fell short of his 50, just when he looked set to provide the late charge and England kept their tight bowling and impressive fielding going right to the end.

Appearing in their first final since losing to Pakistan in 1992, the hosts will be pleased with their efforts in the field and fancy their chances of lifting the trophy for the first time.

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