Michael Clarke capped off his last One-Day International (ODI) by lifting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 as Australia completed their fifth triumph in the quadrennial event. It was a no contest as Australia coasted to victory with seven wickets to spare. Clarke completed his fifty and Steve Smioth also capped off a terrific couple of years with yet another fifty to ensure that Australia had no hiccups in their pursuit of 183. Mitchell Starc set the tone early on, getting Brendon McCullum of the third ball of the match and apart from a brief spell in the middle, which involved a 111-run partnership between Grant Elliott and Ross Taylor, it was Australia all the way as the Kiwis were lost in the colossal Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Catch the Video Highlights of the final between Australia and New Zealand here
McCullum had no hesitation to bat first after winning the toss and making the journey to Australia meant that they had to adapt t the early movement and the big boundaries. It was interesting to see the approach McCullum would take and the first couple of balls by Starc, which beat the Australian captain’s bat showed the perils of the hit-out appraoch. Then McCullum was castled, off a peach that came back into the batsman and there was more trouble in store as Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner came to the party. Also Read: The five top Highlights from the Australia-New Zealand contest
After seeing their team tottering at 37 for three, Grant Elliott and Ross Taylor stabilized the innings. While Elliott showed scant regard for the situation, playing attacking cricket with gusto, Taylor was scratchy, as he has been all tournament. The duo’s 111-run stand lent parity and it looked like the Kiwis could get over the 250-run mark. It was Faulkner who triggered a collapse, picking up Taylor and Corey Anderson and Johnson and Starc polished off the tail.
Australia’s chase started on expected lines. David Warner went hell for leather but they had lost Aaron Finch early and it looked like New Zealand would make a match out of the contest. The second wicket stand between Steven Smith and Warner dispelled any chances of a comeback as runs flowed freely as McCullum looked to attack. Warner was dismissed, trying to hit Matt Henry out of the park but it was Clarke’s moment. Seeing out the early hostile phase of Trent Boult, he trundled on and then went on rampage. Towards the end of the chase, Tim Southee was smashed for four consecutive boundaries, putting his average form behind and ending on a high.
Clarke dragged a Henry delivery onto his stumps but the Aussies just needed nine to win from that stage. Australia bid their time and Steve Smith hit the winning runs by flicking the ball to the square leg fence.
