Watch a moment of 'Deja Vu' unfolds at Lord's as Ben Stokes recreates the 2019 World Cup final-like situation in the first Test.
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England, chasing 246 runs after lunch on Day 3 of the first Test, were reduced to 159/5 with the new captain Ben Stokes scoring 54 runs off 110 deliveries against World Test Champions New Zealand at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Saturday. Ahead of the end of the first session on Day 3, Alex Lees’ (20) was the only wicket to fall with the likes of Zak Crawley (9) and Ollie Pope (10), failing to add much to the team tally in the second essay. However, former England captain Joe Root, held the fort for his side as he was batting at 72 runs off 125 deliveries in the challenging chase.
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The match had his moments and ups and downs with both teams being bundled out inside 150 runs in the first innings and then fighting back to save their noses in the second. However, a moment of ‘Deja Vu’, erupted in the seconds innings for England with Stokes being the centre of the picture. The incident took place in the 43rd over when Root pulled Boult in the first delivery towards mid-wicket and called for a quick single. But a brilliant diving effort from the fielder saw them cancelling the run and as Stokes went back to make his ground, the ball deflected off his bat, but didn’t run away to the fence like the 2019 World Cup final which was also played between the two nations.
The moment left Root smiling at the strikers’ end with Stokes raising both his arms in the air, alike the 2019 World Cup final, to apologise. Root was also seen imitating the traditional apology gesture from Stokes. The incident also saw the Kiwi veteran Boult having a laugh as they all looked back at the 2019 World Cup and had a good laugh on the field about it. The official twitter handle of the England Cricket documented the incident and tweeted, saying, ‘If you know, you know’.
If you know, you know ?
??????? #ENGvNZ ?? pic.twitter.com/ZyIcvwkk8B
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 4, 2022
England were set a target of 242 runs to chase by New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup final. The hosts needed nine runs off three deliveries to win their maiden World Cup. New Zealand veteran Trent Boult was bowling the final over with Ben Stokes at crease. Stokes struck Boult into deep in the third delivery of the final over and the batsmen scurried across for a second run. However, a throw from veteran opener Martin Guptill, deflected off Stokes’ bat as he dived to make it into the crease. The ball, then, raced away to the boundary and the umpires awarded England a total of six runs.
