NZ vs ENG: Cricket World Cup 2019 | Kiwi fans on the outer for thrilling cricket finale

NZ vs ENG: Cricket World Cup 2019 | Kiwi fans on the outer for thrilling cricket finale

New Zealand cricket fans watched the Black Caps succumb to England in a nerve-shredding Cricket World Cup final Monday, but the country's sports bars were closed as the match reached its climax.

The match was played in the dead of night in New Zealand, starting at 10:15 pm on Sunday and ending around 6:30 am on Monday when the Black Caps lost in the final ball of an extra-time Super Over.

The pain for Kiwi fans was magnified by the fact that the country's strict licencing laws meant bars closed at 4 am, more than two hours before the finale.

“How can they force us to leave now — unbelievable,” James Hewitt-Long told AFP from a central Wellington pub when he had to leave at 4am when New Zealand's bowling attack was on the charge.

“We've got to decide what to do now. We can watch it at my mate's work but it's not going to have the same atmosphere.”

The problem was that New Zealand's licencing laws require a special one-off dispensation for all-night events, but no bars applied for any because they had written off the Black Caps' prospects.

Wearing a vintage 'Beige Brigade' New Zealand shirt at the Four Kings sports bar in central Wellington, Abi Thomas was hyped and optimistic before play commenced.

“I can't sit down, I'm too nervous,” she said.

“It's going to be a long night but I had a good two-hour nap this afternoon, so I should be OK.”