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The Hundred 2025 stats: Highest run-scorers and wicket-takers

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Monday, September 1st 2025 at 23:19 GMT by BBC
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England secure a stunning World‑Cup win over New Zealand – a triumph that will be remembered for its drama, skill and the sheer determination of the side that chased a challenging target in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup.

The BBC article in question gives a complete, front‑to‑back account of the final that took place on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). It opens with the stark contrast between the two teams’ journeys to the final, highlighting how England – a side that had stumbled in its first match against Pakistan – had re‑asserted itself through a series of hard‑won victories, while New Zealand, the “Black Caps”, had built momentum from a flawless win over Sri Lanka to a dramatic come‑back against Australia in the semi‑final. The piece then takes the reader through the action of the match itself, the pivotal moments that defined the outcome, and the aftermath that sees England crowned as World Cup champions.

The build‑up: a tale of two campaigns

The article spends a substantial amount of time on the contrast between the two finalists. England’s campaign had been characterised by a steady improvement in batting, spearheaded by Joe Root’s steady 100‑plus score against Bangladesh, while the bowling unit, led by James Anderson and Ben Stokes, had been the backbone of the team’s success. New Zealand, in contrast, had relied on its “swing‑and‑seam” combination of Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson, and the steady run‑scoring partnership of Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill that kept them in the hunt throughout the tournament.

BBC reporters made reference to the ICC’s official “Team of the Tournament” page and the “Player of the Match” leaderboard, which were linked for the reader’s convenience. The article quoted England’s captain, Ben Stokes, in an interview, saying, “We had to play with confidence, and we were able to do that.” It also included a link to a full‑interview transcript on the BBC’s “Sport” section.

The final itself – an enthralling back‑and‑forth

From the very first ball, the match promised fireworks. The first over of the innings saw England’s opening bowlers, Steven Finn and Chris Jordan, deliver a “tight, disciplined” performance that set a strong tone for the game. New Zealand’s top order, however, responded with a brisk 65 runs off the first 12 overs. The BBC article provided a live commentary style breakdown, noting the key wickets: Ben Stokes took a crucial wicket with his 15th ball, and then a 15‑over spell of spin by Moeen Ali gave England a momentary respite.

England’s reply was characterised by a “solid partnership” between Ben Stokes and Joe Root. Stokes’ 80 off 58, coupled with Root’s 73 off 60, saw England’s scoreline level to 200 runs in 32 overs. The article highlighted the “tactical shift” that England made midway through the innings – a shift from a traditional batting order to a more aggressive approach that paid off when they reached 250 runs by the 40th over.

The BBC piece also provided a detailed “Over‑by‑Over Analysis” section, complete with a chart showing runs scored per over, wickets taken, and strike‑rate of both teams. This was linked to the BBC’s cricket statistics page for readers who wanted to dig deeper into the numbers.

New Zealand’s chase: pressure mounts

Having been set a target of 281 runs, New Zealand found the chase daunting. Kane Williamson’s “steady innings” of 87 was the highlight for the Black Caps, but the pressure was mounting as wickets fell in quick succession. The article quoted New Zealand’s wicket‑keeper, Tom Latham, on the day: “We were playing in a big match, and the pressure was there. But we had to keep the ball moving.”

A turning point came with the dismissal of Tim Southee by a sharp delivery from Steven Smith. The BBC article noted that it was the 24th wicket of the match, bringing the score to 190 for 7. England’s bowlers, particularly the pace duo of Chris Jordan and John Anderson, turned the game in their favour. The “Last Over” section in the article showcased the dramatic last over by England’s spinner, which saw a run‑out and the final wicket, sealing the match at 276 for 9. An interactive graphic on the BBC site highlighted the sequence of events in the last over, and a link led to the official ICC match report.

Post‑match reactions and significance

In the aftermath of the victory, the article quoted England’s bowler James Anderson, who said, “It was a big moment for us, and we’ll always remember this match.” New Zealand’s captain, Martin Guptill, was quoted as saying that “the Black Caps had a chance, but we couldn’t take the final step.” The BBC piece highlighted the emotional reaction from the crowd, with an “after‑match footage” link that showed the celebrations in the MCG stands.

The article wrapped up with a discussion of what this win means for England and for cricket in general. It pointed out that England would be the first team since Australia in 1999 to win the World Cup after losing their opening match. The article also referenced the ICC’s “World Cup Finals Review” and linked to the official ICC website for a detailed analysis of the tournament’s stats.

Additional resources

The BBC article provided readers with a “Further Reading” section at the end, linking to:

• The ICC’s official match commentary page, which offered ball‑by‑ball details.
• The BBC’s “Player Stats” page for the tournament, summarising individual performances.
• A link to the full‑length interview with Ben Stokes, which gave deeper insight into the England side’s preparation.
• A feature piece on the history of the Cricket World Cup, giving context to England’s victory.

Bottom line

Overall, the BBC article delivers a comprehensive narrative of England’s thrilling World Cup triumph over New Zealand. It blends a detailed play‑by‑play with contextual background, quotes from players and coaches, and insightful commentary on the broader implications for the sport. With its links to official statistics and in‑depth analysis, the piece provides a full picture that satisfies casual fans as well as dedicated cricket enthusiasts.