Dubai, Nov 15: David Warner’s 53 and an unbeaten 50-ball 77 knock by Mitcell Marsh in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final and Josh Hazlewood’s 3 for 16 helped Australia secure their maiden title here on Sunday.
As millions of fans watched on television Australia outplayed first-time finalists New Zealand by 8 wickets, with the top order setting the tone for a clinical finish.
The pair put on 92 runs for the second wicket, with Warner and Marsh, whose innings was laced with 6 boundaries and 4 sixes, lighting up Dubai International Stadium with a jaw-dropping display.
New Zealand nerves were evident immediately after Warner ensured he pounced with two boundaries off Tim Southee in the first over. Two more fours off Ish Sodhi took Warner near to fifty in the ninth over.
Still the Australians kept coming, Warner striking a six off James Neesham to get to his fifty before he perished to Trent Boult, leaving Australia at a very strong position on 107 for 2 in 12.2 overs.
Finally the respite came for New Zealand with Warner cleaned up by Trent Boult. His 53 featured four boundaries and three sixes in 38 balls, but a classy Marsh kept on his merry way, reaching his 50 by smacking Sodhi for a six and then smoked him through midwicket for a boundary to end the 14th over 125 for 2.
With five overs to go, Australia already were within the range of winning the title with 37 runs to get with Marsh batting nicely and Glenn Maxwell giving him good company.
Australia finished 173 for 2 in 18.5 overs, clinching the game with seven balls to spare, while Maxwell remained 28 not out in 18 balls, after punching four boundaries and a six. Both Marsh and Maxwell stitched a match-winning unbeaten 66 runs partnership for the third wicket.
Earlier, Kane Williamson’s classy half century helped New Zealand post 172 for 4 after they were sent into bat.The New Zealand skipper hit a classy 85 off 48 balls. His knock was laced with 10 boundaries and three sixes.
To begin with, Williamson took his time to settle down along with opener Martin Guptill and together shared 48 runs for the second wicket to take New Zealand to a very good total in the pressure game.
Guptill and Darly Mitchell struck some early boundaries to power the Black Caps to 23 for no loss after 3 overs. The Player of the Match against England, Mitchell edged one to Matthew Wade off Josh Hazlewood behind the stumps.
Guptill (28) played his role before departing, but then Williamson and Glenn Philips played sensibly, but kept New Zealand in the hunt for pushing the total.
After going boundary-less for 32 balls, in the 11th over, Williamson changed the gear and smacked Mitchell Starc for three boundaries, making his intentions clear to up the ante. Then again he pounced on him in the 16th over, creaming as many boundaries.
Williamson’s knock came at a crucial time for New Zealand as he was under the pump for not crossing the single digit against the Aussies in the last nine knocks against them in the T20 format. This was the kind of feisty batting he displayed with the bat to take the sting out of the Australian unit.
He also stitched a crucial 68 runs partnership with Glenn Philips for third wicket, in which the latter’s contribution was an useful 18 off 17 balls, which was studded with one boundary and a six.
Williamson raced to 51 off 32 balls to record the fastest fifty of a men’s T20 World Cup final.
As the NZ captain was going great guns, 190 plus looked possible, but Pat Cummins and Hazlewood bowled slow and into the wicket to arrest the leakage.
Williamson perished for a 48-ball 85.
Chances were created by Australia, but they did not grab on to them and hence paid heavily. Matthew Wade dropped a thick under-edge of Guptill off Glenn Maxwell in the third over and Josh Hezelwood spilled Williamson off Mitchell Starc in the 11th over. These two catches summed up Australia’s woes.
Hazlewood finished with 3 wickets, but Starc conceded 60 runs which is the most by a bowler in a T20 WC final. Malinga had conceded 54 off four overs against West Indies in Colombo RPS in 2012.
