A combined peak audience of 8.3 million saw England’s dramatic World Cup final win play out on television, but despite the interest in the cricket, the BBC was able to boast the best sporting viewing figures of the weekend, with a peak audience of 9.6m tuning in to watch the men’s final at Wimbledon between winner Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Free-to-air viewers were able to watch England’s cricketers live for the first time since the 2005 Ashes series after Sky Sports agreed for Channel 4 to also show the Lord’s clash with New Zealand.

The decision – widely celebrated – was vindicated with Channel 4 saying on Monday that the audience peaked at 8.3m, with 4.8m of those watching on the terrestrial channel.

“I’m thrilled that a total peak audience of 8.3m watched England win the Cricket World Cup final on Channel 4 and Sky,” said Channel 4’s chief executive Alex Mahon.

Channel 4 also shared live coverage of the British Grand Prix, won by home favourite Lewis Hamilton, which 3.7m viewers saw across the two networks.

“It’s wonderful that the whole nation can come together to share these momentous British sporting events thanks to a fantastic partnership between Channel 4 and Sky,” Mahon added.

Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Show all 21 1 /21 Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Jason Roy 4 out of 10 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Jason Roy of England walks off the field after being dismissed by Matt Henry of New Zealand during the Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between New Zealand and England at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 14, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) Clive Mason Getty Images Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Jonny Bairstow 5 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Lockie Ferguson of New Zealand celebrates dismissing Jonny Bairstow of England during the Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between New Zealand and England at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 14, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Michael Steele Getty Images Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Joe Root 4 TOPSHOT - England's Joe Root walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal during the 2019 Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on July 14, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEDIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images DIBYANGSHU SARKAR AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Eoin Morgan 5 England's Eoin Morgan leaves the field after being dismissed during the ICC World Cup Final at Lord's, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday July 14, 2019. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use. Still image use only. Nick Potts PA Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Ben Stokes 9 Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup Final - New Zealand v England - Lord's, London, Britain - July 14, 2019 England's Ben Stokes in action Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers ANDREW BOYERS Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Jos Buttler 8 England's Jos Buttler hits a four during the Cricket World Cup final match between England and New Zealand at Lord's cricket ground in London, Sunday, July 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Chris Woakes - 7 England's Chris Woakes celebrates taking the wicket of New Zealand's Tom Latham during the Cricket World Cup final match between England and New Zealand at Lord's cricket ground in London, Sunday, July 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Liam Plunkett 8 England's Liam Plunkett celebrates the dismissal of New Zealand's James Neesham during the Cricket World Cup final match between England and New Zealand at Lord's cricket ground in London, England, Sunday, July 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Aijaz Rahi AP Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Mark Wood 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Mark Wood of England celebrates dismissing Tom Latham of New Zealand during the Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between New Zealand and England at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 14, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) BESTPIX Clive Mason Getty Images Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Adil Rashid - 7 Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup Final - New Zealand v England - Lord's, London, Britain - July 14, 2019 England's Adil Rashid in action Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers ANDREW BOYERS Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Jofra Archer 9 Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup Final - New Zealand v England - Lord's, London, Britain - July 14, 2019 England's Jofra Archer celebrates taking the wicket of New Zealand's Matt Henry Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra PETER CZIBORRA Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Martin Guptill 5 New Zealand's Martin Guptill during the ICC World Cup Final at Lord's, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday July 14, 2019. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use. Still image use only. John Walton PA Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Henry Nicholls 7 epaselect epa07716255 Henry Nicholls (L) of New Zealand is bowled out by Liam Plunkett (R) of England during the 2019 Cricket World Cup final between New Zealand and England at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, Britain, 14 July 2019. EPA/KIERAN GALVIN EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES KIERAN GALVIN EPA Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Kane Williamson 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Kane Williamson of New Zealand hits out during the Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between New Zealand and England at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 14, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Michael Steele Getty Images Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Ross Taylor 5 New Zealand's Ross Taylor, center, walks away as England's Ben Stokes, left, and Jofra Archer fill in the damaged pitch area during the Cricket World Cup final match between England and New Zealand at Lord's cricket ground in London, England, Sunday, July 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Aijaz Rahi AP Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Tom Latham 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Tom Latham of New Zealand bats during the Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between New Zealand and England at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 14, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) Clive Mason Getty Images Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Lockie Ferguson 7 New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson catches out England's Eoin Morgan after a ball from James Neesham during the ICC World Cup Final at Lord's, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday July 14, 2019. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use. Still image use only. Nick Potts PA Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Colin de Grandhomme 6 New Zealand's Colin de Grandhomme (centre) looks on as England's Ben Stokes (left) and Jos Buttler score runs during the ICC World Cup Final at Lord's, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday July 14, 2019. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use. Still image use only. John Walton PA Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Matt Henry 7 New Zealand's Matt Henry appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of England's Jos Buttler during the ICC World Cup Final at Lord's, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday July 14, 2019. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use. Still image use only. John Walton PA Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Mitchell Santner 6 New Zealand's Mitchell Santner fields during the ICC World Cup Final at Lord's, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday July 14, 2019. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use. Still image use only. Nick Potts PA Player ratings from England vs New Zealand World Cup final Trent Boult 7 New Zealand's Trent Boult appeals England's Jason Roy out for LBW but it is not given after review during the ICC World Cup Final at Lord's, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday July 14, 2019. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use. Still image use only. Nick Potts PA

Sky was also celebrating the figures, with UK and Ireland chief executive Stephen Van Rooyen saying: “Congratulations to England and everyone who has been part of the journey at the ECB. The ICC put on a terrific tournament.

“We’ve been proud host broadcasters of a home Cricket World Cup, dedicating a channel and showing every single minute, which has been absorbing from the first ball to the unforgettable final delivery.

“Sunday saw a peak across Sky and Channel 4 of 8.3 million – a huge audience for a huge moment for British sport. On Sky’s channels our peak was 3.5m alone, a fitting way to cap a terrific tournament.

“We are proud of our long-term cricket partnership, which has grown over three decades, delivering record investment into the sport. This partnership will continue with our coverage of the men’s and women’s Ashes this summer, and by working with the ECB to deliver a new grassroots cricket participation campaign.”

The 2005 Ashes series, arguably the most gripping Test series ever witnessed, was shown on Channel 4 and, despite its popularity, was the last international cricket to be shown on free-to-air in the UK.

Critics have said being behind a paywall has cost the English game but, while acknowledging the joy of having the game broadcast into more homes than usual, Ashley Giles, the director of cricket for the England men’s team, said Sky’s role should not be overlooked.

Giles, who played in that 2005 series, said on Radio 4: “First of all, we have got cricket back on terrestrial next year – our new competition, The Hundred. It’s going to be magnificent and the BBC are showing that.

“But make no mistake, the investment Sky has put into the game has helped us get to the point where we were at yesterday.”

Asked if England would not have been able to win the World Cup without Sky’s financial backing, Giles said: “Quite possibly, yes. The investment in the game from grassroots to professional has allowed us to do what we’ve done.

“Sky took the game on and have been fantastic supporters since. Thank you to them for allowing it on Channel 4.”