Kiwi's classy act after heartbreaking World Cup moment

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has been hailed by fans for his classy reaction to a shattering World Cup final defeat.

Ben Stokes' bat helped England claim a maiden World Cup trophy after one of the most dramatic finishes in the tournament’s history.

Stokes benefited from a huge slice of fortune that almost certainly denied the Kiwis victory.

In a match of high drama, the game swung viciously in the final over with England needing nine from three balls when Stokes hit Trent Boult to the deep.

The return throw from Martin Guptill hit Stokes' bat as he dived to make his ground for the second run, with the ball rebounding to the rope for an additional four overthrow runs.

A gentleman's rule has traditionally dictated that once a throw rebounds off a batsman or bat that no further runs are taken.

However there is no official rule to protect this, and the umpires had no choice but to award the extra four runs to Stokes and reduce the margin to three from two.

It pushed England towards the eventual tie at the end of the game and super over, before they won on a boundary count back.

The outcome couldn’t have been crueller for the Kiwis, but the team handled the disappointment with incredible distinction.

New Zealand captain Williamson said regardless of the game's traditions, it wasn't a time to push for a change in the rules to prohibit runs from being awarded after a batsman is hit.

"The rule has been there for a long time," Williamson said.

"I don't think anything like that's happened (before) where you now question it.

"There were so many other bits and pieces to that game that were so important."

Sentiment for Williamson was running high on social media, where fans praised the Kiwi captain's class in defeat.

Stokes immediately raised his hands to apologise for the incident, with the England allrounder clearly having no intention to deflect the ball.

"I wasn't celebrating," England captain Eoin Morgan said.

"It is not something you celebrate or cheer."

Meanwhile Williamson also brushed aside questions over the decision review system, after they were denied Jason Roy's wicket on the first ball of England's innings.

The Black Caps' referral was turned down on umpire's call, despite the ball appearing to be crashing into leg stump on the tracker.

Under the ICC rules, 50 per cent of the ball must be hitting the stumps for a call to be overturned.

"You have small margins like that, you have other sort of human decisions that can go one way or another and that is just part and parcel of the sport," Williamson said.

"Guys moved on from that and a number of other parts in that match that would have been nice if they snuck our way."

With AAP