Plunkett, Woakes help England restrict New Zealand to 241-8
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 ICC World Cup final at Lord’s on Sunday.
Fast bowler Plunkett dismissed New Zealand captain and star batsman Kane Williamson for just 30 before removing established opener Henry Nicholls for an innings-best 55 in a return of 3-42 from his 10 overs. Woakes followed up with 3-37.
New Zealand, however, successfully defended a total of 239 in their shock semi-final win over India, when they reduced one of the world’s strongest batting line-ups to 24-4.
Williamson, as he had done against India, batted first after winning the toss in overcast conditions — after both sides retained the same XI from their contrasting semi-final victories — and on a green pitch Nicholls was still on nought when given out
lbw to Woakes but successfully reviewed umpire Kumar Dharmasena’s decision.
Fellow opener Martin Guptill, the leading run-scorer at the 2015 World Cup, then hit fast bowler Jofra Archer for two boundaries in three balls — an uppercut six over third man followed by a straight drive back over the paceman’s head.
Guptill has struggled at this tournament, however, and on 19 he was lbw to Woakes, who had struck two early blows in England’s eight-wicket semi-final thrashing of reigning champions Australia.
Guptill— who had gone without a fifty since the opener against Sri Lanka — reviewed but was walking back to the pavilion even before replays confirmed the ball would have smashed into his middle stump.
It left number three Williamson having to mount yet another rescue mission this World Cup.
Before this match, Williamson had scored nearly 30 percent of his side’s runs at this tournament — 548 at an eye-catching average of 91.33.