England’s bid for World Cup glory has got off to the prefect start as they have taken their first wicket to leave New Zealand 29-1 in the tense final at Lord’s.
The Kiwis won the toss and captain Kane Williamson elected to bat with the match starting at 10.45am after play was pushed back due to some early morning rain at Lord’s in London.
Chris Woakes sent Martin Guptill packing with 19 runs with a fast delivery coming back onto the batsman’s leg – the Kiwis reviewed the umpire’s lbw call but it was upheld.
England captain Eoin Morgan said the toss would have been a ’50/50 call’ and was ‘not at all’ disappointed to be bowling first.
Thousands of cricket fans from across the world have descended on Lord’s cricket ground in St John’s Wood for the sell-out occasion.
England opener Chris Woakes celebrates after thinking he had taken an early wicket against New Zealand this morning at Lord’s cricket ground in London
Howzat! Chris Woakes yells for an lbw appeal against Martin Guptill, who couldn’t handle the bowler’s ball coming back onto his leg
Martin Guptill pulls his gloves off after knocking 19 in New Zealand’s short-lived opening partnership at Lord’s – he asked for the umpire’s decision to be reviewed but it was upheld
A nervous England fan with the cross of St George painted on her cheek bites her nails as England open the bowling at the home of cricket
England fans cheer on the side as they watch on big screens in Trafalgar Square in central London this morning
Kane Williamson of New Zealand and Eoin Morgan of England shake hands as former England captain Nasser Hussain announced the toss to fans – the Kiwis won the toss and Williamson elected to bat first
Marylebone Cricket Club members unfurled their umbrellas on their way to Lord’s this morning as the capital experienced showers this morning
An MCC member stands beneath an umbrella outside Lord’s this morning as rain delayed play to 10.45am, with New Zealand winning the toss and electing to bat
Prime Minister Theresa May stands alongside her husband Philip as they sing ‘God Save the Queen’ ahead of England’s match against New Zealand at Lord’s
The England team line up for the national anthems after the covers came off on a green-looking pitch in overcast London this morning
England fans gather in London’s Trafalgar Square to watch the World Cup Final on the big screen in overcast central London
England’s Eoin Morgan and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson lead out their men ahead of the Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s this morning
Chris Woakes opens the bowling for England this morning as Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls open the batting for the Kwis
Jason Roy of England steps out onto the field this morning for a warm-up ahead of their historic match against the Kiwis – a win from either side would represent their first ever World Cup title
Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali gesture to fans as they warm up this morning before play got underway at Lord’s
The New Zealand players sing their anthem alongside mascots next to the golden trophy of the Cricket World Cup
The venue in was last used for the inaugural World Cup in 1999 with prior years Lord’s being used in 1975, 1979 and 1983.
A win for either side would represent their first World Cup title.
England is in the title match for the fourth time, and the first since 1992, while New Zealand is playing in a second final, after losing to Australia in 2015.
Prime Minister Theresa May with her husband Philip May watch from the stands as England open the bowling against New Zealand
Cucumber sandwich time: Martin Guptill (right) was given out lbw and headed back to the New Zealand dressing room for an early lunch as Chris Woakes celebrated the wicket (left)
South African Marais Erasmus signals a six as England opener Jofra Archer scratches his chin out on the wicket at Lord’s
Martin Guptill lashes at a ball as his side look to set an insurmountable total this morning in the Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s
The rain covers were removed to reveal a green-looking pitch. World Cup finals tend to be low-scoring matches and this is likely to be no exception, if previous matches at Lord’s are anything to go by.
England starts as the favourite, having been the top-ranked one-day side for the past year and beaten India, New Zealand and then Australia – in the semifinals – in its last three games this tournament.
New Zealand, No. 3 in the ODI rankings, defeated India in the semifinals and should be better for its experience of the final four years ago.
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen checks his mobile while working for the televised match-up at the home of cricket
A member of The Red Devils parachute display team before the match at the home of cricket this morning
The Red Devils deliver the match ball to fourth umpire Aleem Dar after bringing in to the ground via parachute
Eoin Morgan leads out his men at the sell
England fans walk through the rain-dampened streets of St John’s Wood this morning on their way to the home of cricket at Lord’s
MCC members queue up outside the ground this morning with umbrellas – rain caused a match delay, with play starting 15 minutes behind schedule
You can watch the final New Zealand vs England live on Sky Sports who have the broadcasting rights in the UK. Channel 4 will also be showing the match free-to-air.
Both teams are unchanged from the semifinals.