Ben Stokes dived for his crease as Martin Guptill's throw deflected off his outstretched bat to the boundary — the umpires awarded 6 runs (4 for the boundary + 2 being run), though replays suggested only 5 should have been given. The 'extra' run may have changed the World Cup result.
Already covered in the 2019 World Cup Final entry — this focuses specifically on the overthrow six moment and its lasting controversy, separate from the match narrative.
England needed 9 off 3 balls. Stokes hit the ball and ran. As he dived, Guptill's return throw struck his outstretched bat and deflected to the boundary.
Under Law 19.8, overthrow runs should only count if the batsmen had already crossed (were running between wickets) at the moment the fielder released the throw. Video evidence showed that Stokes and Jason Roy had NOT crossed when Guptill threw.
The Laws say: 'If the boundary results from an overthrow and the batsmen had not crossed at the time of the throw, the fielding side shall only be credited with the runs completed by the batsmen plus the boundary allowance.'
If the runs were counted correctly, England should have received 5 (2 completed + 4 boundary minus 1 because they hadn't crossed). Instead they received 6 (2 + 4). The extra run mattered — England eventually tied on 241-241.
In a match decided by boundary count (England 26, New Zealand 17), that one extra run may not have changed the boundary count but it affected the total. The ICC reviewed the controversy but did not change the result.
Stokes dives — Guptill's throw deflects off bat to boundary
Umpires award 6 runs — replays suggest 5 was correct
The 'extra' run's implications in a match decided by 1 run and then by boundary count
July 14, 2019
World Cup Final, Lord's
Over 49, 9 needed off 3
Stokes dives — Guptill's throw hits bat, deflects to boundary
6 runs awarded
Umpires count 2 completed + 4 boundary = 6
Post-match
ICC confirms incorrect application of Law 19.8 — result stands
The ICC reviewed the decision and confirmed the umpires had applied the Law incorrectly — but stated the result would stand. The boundary countback rule was simultaneously abolished. Both decisions were made after the fact.
The most-discussed umpiring decision in World Cup final history — not because it was malicious but because it was legally incorrect according to the Laws and it occurred in the World Cup final. New Zealand's defeat may have been affected by a run that should not have been given.
The overthrow six is cricket's lasting example of how a single incorrect ruling — even one unintentional — can affect the most important match. It prompted the ICC to clarify Law 19.8 in subsequent coaching materials.
Australia vs West Indies
1960-12-14
The first tied Test in 86 years of cricket history — Australia and West Indies finished level on 737 runs each after five days of breathless cricket in Brisbane, producing one of the most dramatic finishes the game has ever seen.
India vs Australia
1986-09-22
Twenty-six years after Brisbane, cricket produced only its second tied Test — Dean Jones's heroic 210 through crippling heat and Dean Jones's fever, Ravi Shastri's unbeaten 48 and India needing 2 off the last over, only for Maninder Singh to be out lbw off the final ball.
Australia vs South Africa
1999-06-17
Lance Klusener smashed Australia to the brink of elimination, then ran out Allan Donald off the penultimate ball to tie the match — but Australia advanced to the final on superior run rate, ending South Africa's greatest World Cup campaign in devastating fashion.