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Cricket World Cup final: Stokes leading England to victory was 'written in the stars' - Root
Joe Root says England’s World Cup triumph was ‘written in the stars’ as Ben Stokes led the hosts to victory.
The all-rounder was part of England’s 2016 T20 World Cup final team, where they lost despite defending a score of 18 in the final over.
Stokes was the man to bowl the death over - and was dispatched by Carlos Brathwaite for four sixes.
But it was the Durham man who got England over the line at Lord’s - with his 84 not out followed by a strong super over showing.
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READ MORE: Ben Stokes leads England to pulsating super-over victory at Lord's as New Zealand left heartbroken
And Root - England’s Test captain - believes it was meant to be after the hosts won the decider on most boundaries scored.
The Yorkshire man said: “Unbelievable, what a day, what a tournament.
“We have come through some difficult periods, in the group stage we held it together.
“To see them at the end when the pressure was on, it was almost written in the stars for Ben. I couldn’t be more proud, pleased for him in particular.”
Stokes’ big-hitting saw England grasp a lifeline from the jaws of defeat when he managed 14 runs off the 50th over of the match.
Although it began with two dot balls, Stokes slammed a six before inadvertently redirecting a throw from the deep to the boundary rope for six more.
And the 28-year-old player of the match said he will forever be apologising to the nation of his birth.
“I’m pretty lost for words,” the match-winner said. “All that hard work over the last four years, to get here and be champions of the world it’s an amazing feeling.
“Playing against New Zealand is always a great thing to be a part of. A seriously good team, they’re really good lads.
“I said to Kane (Williamson, their captain) I’ll be apologising for the rest of my life.
“Pretty good (feeling) to be honest. This is what we aspired to be. We managed to come here and do it. Thanks to everybody, we’ve loved all the support.
“There was no chance I wasn’t going to be there at the end,” he added when prompted on his appearance in the super over.
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