World Cup: 'As a nation, we aged a year during the Super Over': New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern hails the Kiwis

New Zealand were left devastated after the boundary count-back rule snatched the World Cup crown away from them after fighting back against England until the last ball of the super over on July 14 at Lord's Cricket Grounds in London. A brilliant display of batting from all-rounder James Neesham in the super over failed to get the Kiwis across the line, as the winner of the tied match was decided based on who scored more number of boundaries and hence England (24) were crowned champions and New Zealand (17) lost out. 

'I think as a nation, we all aged a year during that super over. That was undeniably a brilliant game. Congratulations to England and to the Black Caps. I feel nothing but pride. What a team", New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, expressing how the entire of New Zealand felt as the Super Over progressed. 

The 'traumatized' Prime Minister plans to give a heroes' welcome to the Black Caps on their return, saying she was extremely proud of what the team has achieved in the World Cup regardless of the final outcome. 

"I think probably like a lot of New Zealanders I'm still feeling quite traumatized by that match. It was an incredible game, I can't recall seeing a game like it and I think it will just go down in history for just being a remarkable game of cricket," Ardern was quoted as saying in 'Radio New Zealand'.

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"But regardless of that final outcome I just feel incredibly proud of the Black Caps and I hope every New Zealander does because they played remarkable cricket across the course of that tournament, and they certainly did in that last match."

Team England was chasing a target of 242 set by the Kiwis. Ben Stokes was the man for the hosts with an unbeaten 84-not out along with Jos Butler's 59. As the game went to Super Over, Stokes and Butler again registered 15-run target for the Black Caps that they managed to level. However, the boundary count-back favoured the hosts as they had scored eight more boundaries than New Zealand.

Youngster Jofra Archer held his nerves while bowling the Super Over despite conceding 14 runs as a run-out off the last ball of the Super Over, saw the game tied once again before the boundary count-back rule applied. Kane Williamson was adjudged the player of the tournament for scoring 548 runs with the bat at an average of 91.33 in addition to leading the Kiwis from the front.

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