Feature

New Zealand and England's last two World Cup encounters - in pictures

Two nail-biting finishes, two different results, a lot of emotions

Deepti Unni
 ICC/Getty Images

The last two times England and New Zealand met each other in a limited-overs ICC tournament - the first semi-final of the current T20 World Cup and the final of the 2019 ODI World Cup - were to contrasting results. The emotions, though, have run the same gamut.

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England in happier times, in the 2019 final  IDI/Getty Images

On a two-paced wicket in the UAE, both England and New Zealand struggled to get the ball away. Ish Sodhi got early aggressor Jos Buttler - the top scorer of the 2021 World Cup - out for 29 in the ninth over.

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In 2019, Martin Guptill was the first to go, Chris Woakes dismissing him for 19 in the seventh over.

 Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

New Zealand's most New Zealand moment came in the 18th over. With 34 needed from 18 balls, Daryl Mitchell collided with Adil Rashid at the non-striker's end while attempting a run. Conceding that he'd come in the way of the spinner, Mitchell turned down the run.

 ICC via Getty

In 2019, England were the beneficiaries of a deflection that went on to define the match - a throw from Martin Guptill deflected off Stokes' bat and went for a four that would eventually push the game into a Super Over. Jimmy Anderson reported then that Stokes had asked the umpires to take the four runs off the board, but since it went for a boundary there was little he could do.

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Stokes was also given a life earlier in the match, in the 49th over when Trent Boult pulled off a screamer at the boundary, only to step on the rope and have it given a six.

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Similar scenes played out in the 2021 semi-final, when Jonny Bairstow caught Jimmy Neesham at the boundary and relayed the catch to Liam Livingstone. Replays showed Bairstow had kneed the rope going over, and New Zealand were awarded a six.

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Mitchell smoked Chris Woakes over midwicket for what would be the four that sealed New Zealand's place in their first T20 World Cup final, and the team's dugout erupted. All except for Jimmy Neesham, who's seen too many Super Overs and what-could-have-beens up close, and there's still a final to be played.

 ICC via Getty

No such reservations for England after they ran Guptill out to clinch their first ODI World Cup title, in 2019.

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England captain Eoin Morgan cut a dejected figure as the team left the field.

 ICC via Getty Images

A feeling New Zealand captain Kane Williamson knows too well, and will be happy to pass up this time around.

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Deepti Unni is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

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