Melbourne: Left proved to be right for Australia as the trio of Faulkner, Johnson and Starc ripped apart the New Zealand innings for a score of 183 in the ICC Cricket World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
While the other New Zealand batsmen succumb to Australia’s tremendous display, Grant Elliott remained the only batsman who offered some fight with his 82 The New Zealand innings came to an end when Glenn Maxwell cashed in on Tim Southee’s sloppy work to get back into the crease. In the same over, Mitchell Johnson had dismiissed Matt Henry.
Earlier, with Grant Elliott departure, after scoring 82, off Faulkner’s bowling, the chances of New Zealand getting past 200-run mark looked absolutely bleak. In the over before Elliott’s dismissal, Mitchell Johnson broke Vettori’s resilience to give Australia their seventh wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Just when New Zealand looked secured for a big finish after the Taylor-Elliott 100-run partnership, James Faulkner and Mitchell Starc have pushed New Zealand on backfoot once again.
In a World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Faulkner dismissed Taylor and Corey Anderson in the 36 th over. In the next over, Starc struck to get his second wicket in the final. Currently, Daniel Vettori and 50-up Ellioot are in the middle with New Zealand in a deep hole.
New Zealand were in a deep hole as Mitchell Johnson sent back Kane Williamson in the dressing room, with the scorecard reading 3 down without much on the board.
In the previous over, Martin Guptill – the leading run-getter of the tournament- – was dismissed by Glenn Maxwell for 15. Following Williamson’s dismissal, Ross Taylor was joined by Grant Elliott as New Zealand are in a serious need to rebuild the innings.
Australia made a sensational start to the final as Mitchell Starc disturbed the timber in the first over to dismiss Brendon McCullum for zero.
It seems winning the toss and batting first costing New Zealand?
Here are the live updates.
New Zealand innings:
In the 45th over bowled by Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell’s brilliance to cash in on Tim Southee’s sloppy work ended New Zealand’s innings for a paltry total of 183.
In the same over, Johnson got his third wicket when Matt Hentry scooped an easy catch to Mitchell Starc.
Grant Elliott was the only man who fought hard against the hostile Australian attack and with his dismissal in the 42nd over bowled by Faulkner, ended New Zealand’s hopes to put up a respectable total on the board.
Earlier, Daniel Vettori tried to provide some company to Grant Elliott but Mitchell Johnson ended Vettori’s innings with an inswinger that disturned the timber.
After the early jolts in the final, New Zealand looked safe and sound asTaylor and fifty-up Elliott brought up a 100-run partnership. However, as soon as the batting powerplay came into play, began New Zealand’s downfall. In the first over of the batting powerplay, Faulkner struck twice to dismiss Taylor and Corey Anderson and in the very next over, Starc removed Luke Ronchi for duck.
Just when New Zealand needed a solid partnership, Grant Elliott and Ross Taylor provided one, with Elliott scoring majority of the runs.
New Zealand had another scare when Glenn Maxwell’s loud shout impressed umpire Dharmasena who gave Grant Elliott out. The batsman decided to review the decision and to his and the entire New Zealand’s relief, he was spot on with the review and was given not out.
