The Cricket World Cup got underway on October 5th, and it did so with New Zealand earning redemption. In the final four years ago, the Kiwis were defeated by England at Lord’s in heartbreaking fashion, losing in a Super Over after the match finished as a tie. The heroics of English Messiah Ben Stokes were simply too much for those from the Land of the Long White Cloud to contain, losing in their second consecutive World Cup final after succumbing to neighbors Australia four years prior.
This time around, however, they didn’t hold back. Their bowling attack consisting of Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, and Matt Henry restricted England to a score of just 282/9. Kiwi batsmen Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra proceeded to slap the 293 runs required in just 36.2 overs, with the former hitting a scintillating 152 off 121 balls and the latter racking up 123 runs in just 96 balls. The result has seen popular sportsbook online slash odds on the back-to-back runners-up winning their first-ever World Cup to just 11/2.
Revenge is sweet. Especially when it’s on a global sporting stage. But it isn’t just the 2023 New Zealanders that have taken their revenge at the tournament. And that is exactly what happened in some of the most dramatic matches in the history of the cricket World Cup. Here are three other times where exactly that has happened.
2023 a Carbon Copy of 2011 for New Zealand
In the semifinals of the 2011 World Cup, New Zealand lost a heartbreaking match to Sri Lanka which ended their campaign. Their performances during that tournament were the Kiwis’ best for some time however, they stumbled in the final four and eventual runners-up Sri Lanka restricted them to just 217 runs in a one-sided five-wicket defeat. Four years later, they had to face their conquerors in the tournament’s curtain raiser on home turf in Christchurch.
New Zealand was keen to take revenge. And boy, they did it in style. Trent Boult took three wickets, Tim Southee took two, and Daniel Vettori took one, as New Zealand bundled out Sri Lanka for just 233. The knock was a paltry effort as Kiwi slammed home 331 runs in their innings, good enough for a lopsided 98-run victory.
India’s Revenge After Semifinal Heartbreak
India and Australia have a great history of facing each other in crucial World Cup matches. In the semifinals of the 2015 World Cup, Australia dominated India with a comprehensive 95-run win and went on to win the World Cup, defeating fellow co-hosts New Zealand in the final. Fast forward to 2019. the Men in Blue and the Baggy Greens met once again, this time in the group stage.
The two teams were considered to be the front runners for the trophy, and many expected them to battle it out at the home of cricket in the showpiece match a couple of weeks later. That wouldn’t come to pass however, India still had their shot at redemption against their nemeses and it was an opportunity they wouldn’t pass up.
After winning the toss, India opted to bat first and they posted a mammoth total of 352, with Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli all scoring fifties. Steve Smith did his best to drag his team back into the contest however, the Aussies could only manage 316 in reply, eventually succumbing to a 36-run defeat.
England Bounce Back From Pool Stage Humiliation
In 2015, England suffered a humiliating embarrassment as they failed to qualify for the knockouts of the World Cup. Their misery was further compounded as they also lost to both finalists, New Zealand and Australia. Four years later, England hosted the tournament, and without wanting to disappoint their home faithful, they were out to prove themselves and restore their pride. They would do that and then some.
England would lose to Australia once more in the group stages, but when their pair met in the semifinals, they wouldn’t make the same mistake again. The third time is indeed the charm, and that was the case in this final four contest as the English wiped the floor with their greatest rival. With pace bowler Chris Woakes taking three wickets for just 20 runs, England would restrict Australia to a score of just 223 in a resounding eight-wicket victory.
After sealing that victory, they faced and defeated New Zealand in the nail-biting final and the match was the stuff of legends. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler somehow drew England level after requiring a mammoth amount of runs in the final few overs for victory. The former of those two managed to knock 14 runs off the final over alone however, that was only good enough for a tie and a Super Over decider. Stokes would once more help his country over the line, with him and Buttler combining for 15 runs, allowing Jofra Archer and Jonny Bairstow to secure the trophy in dramatic fashion, running out the pacey Martin Guptill by a matter of inches.
