New Delhi, March 30 – Australia rode on the brilliance of Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood, with the new ball. If Starc swung it at pace, then Johnson and Hazlewood bowled back of a length and hit the bat hard. Faulkner with his box of tricks ran through the middle-order and took three scalps.
Their fielding too was sharp. In short, Australia didn’t put a foot wrong in the big game. The Australian players rush onto the field to join Smith and Watson in their celebrations. The MCG goes berserk. The New Zealand players shake hands.
McCullum hugs Vettori, who is retiring from international cricket. The Australians congratulate and hug each other. Coach Darren Lehmann is elated and is seen hugging every single player of the Australian team.
Michael Clarke on win: “Obviously I am over the moon. What a tournament. Firstly, to Brendon and his New Zealand team, congratulations on a wonderful tournament. To the Australian fans and all fans, the support we’ve had is amazing.
Then to the team, including the support staff, we have a wonderful bunch of guys. The guys played really well once again. I might give it back to Warnie. It’s been an honour and previlage to represent my country in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
The blackband is, you can see PH written on it. I will wear it every game I play for Australia. It’s certainly dedicated to Phil Hughes. Hughesy used to party as good as any of them. It’s a great thing to be making the final and to win it in front of your home fans is special.”
Brendon McCullum on New Zealand’s performance: “It’s been one hell of a ride for us. We have played some outstanding cricket and we ran into an oustanding Australian team and they thoroughly deserve to win. To take 7/33 at the end, they put us under a lot of pressure. In the end, we were the second best team on the day.
No regrets, this is the greatest stage that you can ask for as a cricketer. We are obviously not able to lift the trophy, but the brand of cricket we have played, we’ve entertained everyone and we walk away with our heads held high. I am proud of all the guys in the team. We’ve still got some work do, but I am proud of what we’ve done.”
Man of the Match: Australia’s James Faulkner receives the MoM award from Sachin Tendulkar. Faulkner ended his nine over spell with the figures of 3/36 including the crucial wickets of Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott and Corey Anderson.
Player of the Tournament: Mitchell Starc receives the award from Sachin Tendulkar. The Australian speedster ended the 2015 World Cup as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 22 wickets alongside New Zealand’s Trent Boult.
Australia put their stamp on what was an authoritative show by chasing down the target with plenty of overs to spare. It was for the fifth time that they won the World Cup. Emotions were on full view, as on one side, the New Zealand players had a dejected look on their faces.
At the other end of the spectrum, it turned out to be a red letter day for the opposition. It was an amazing performance from Australia and they deservedly got the chance to taste the glory of success.
It also has to be remembered that this was Michael Clarke’s last ODI and he signed off from the abridged version of the game in style by notching up a half-century. Steven Smith too scored a fine fifty.
After being bundled out for a paltry score, Trent Boult gave New Zealand a glimmer of hope by snaffling Aaron Finch’s wicket. However, once Smith and Clarke forged a superb partnership, the door was shut on their dream of winning the mega event for the first time.
In fact, the credit also has to go to the bowlers, as they scythed through the New Zealand batting line-up. It was Mitchell Starc, who gave them a perfect start by shattering Brendon McCullum’s stumps to send the jam-packed crowd at the MCG into paroxysms of delight.
Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson followed him back to the pavilion. Grant Elliott and Ross Taylor then stitched a century stand to resurrect their fortunes. It was James Faulkner, who put Australia in pole position by taking the wickets of Taylor and Corey Anderson in quick succession.
Even though, Elliott continued to play a sterling knock, New Zealand’s innings sloped towards a modest score. Australia rode on the brilliance of Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood, with the new ball.
If Starc swung it at pace, then Johnson and Hazlewood bowled back of a length and hit the bat hard. Faulkner with his box of tricks ran through the middle-order and took three scalps. Their fielding too was sharp. In short, Australia didn’t put a foot wrong in the big game.
This victory certainly will be the crowning glory of those Australian cricketers, who lifted the glittering trophy. New Zealand too can be proud of their performance as they played with a positive mindset throughout the tournament to reach their first final.
Road to Final:
Australia:
Australia began with a bang thumping England. Then there was a washout against Bangladesh before losing a thriller against New Zealand. The no-result and the loss to New Zealand meant they couldn’t finish top of the group. Australia smashed Afghanistan then won a high-scoring game against Sri Lanka before having it easy against Scotland.
Quarter-final: Pakistan were expected to be tricky opposition in the quarters but except for the tremendous spell from Wahab Riaz which had them on the ropes for a while, Australia were always in command. Once they survived Riaz’s spell, Australia cantered home to victory to set up a semi-final date with India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Semi-final: Australia faced India and won a crucial toss to bat first. Warner went early but Smith and Finch rebuilt the innings. The former brought up a hundred and continued his tormenting of India. India fought back well after Smith was dismissed but a late cameo from Johnson took Australia to 329. With the runs on the board, the Aussies withstood an initial onslaught from Dhawan before taking wickets at regular intervals. Eventually they reached their seventh World Cup final with a comfortable 95-run win.
New Zealand:
New Zealand were the only side apart from India to have a clean slate in the group stages. Played 6. Won 6. Beat Sri Lanka comfortably. Edged past Scotland. Annihilated England. Won a thriller against Australia in the game of the tournament. Eased past Afghanistan and then held their nerve to beat Bangladesh.
Quarter-final: Martin Guptill made the highest ever score by a batsman in a World Cup knockout game as his unbeaten 237 powered New Zealand to 393. West Indies went hell for leather and lost by 143 runs.
Guptill who was dropped on 4 made the West Indies pay heavily for their mistake as the Wellington crowd were treated to his wide range of strokeplay. With the ball, Boult snared the first four wickets and set his side on their way.
Semi-final: In the game of the tournament, New Zealand won a cliffhanger against South Africa to move into the final. South Africa were placed for the final assault after 38 overs with AB in a devastating mood. But once again rain came in to spoil their party and the game was reduced to a 43-overs per side match. South Africa made 281 and the D/L adjusted target was 298 for New Zealand.
Teams(Playing XI):
Australia: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steven Smith, Michael Clarke(c), Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin(wk), James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum(c), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi(wk), Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Trent Boult.
-INDIA TODAY
