ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Final
Australia thrash New Zealand to clinch 5th Cricket World Cup title
Australia claimed their fifth world best title today beating co-hosts New Zealand before a record attendance at home-ground Melbourne in the World Cup 2015.
Aussies proved their worth cutting the final short in a low-scoring match bowling out the Kiwis at 183 with left-arm pace and clean-sweeping a victory with compelling batting.
Brendon McCullum and his team, who were considered a heavyweight contender for the title in this tournament, could do little and were simply outclassed by their neighbours.
The Kiwis dropped like flies starting with McCullum in first over for a duck, except for the period that saw a heroic 111-run partnership between Grant Elliott and Ross Taylor.
Before the first drinks break, New Zealand were three down after choosing to bat first. The slide resumed during the batting powerplay with James Faulkner hurting the most.
Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner ended up having three wickets each with Mitchell Starc, who made the opening breakthrough, two and Glenn Maxwell one.
Both sides are unchanged from the lineups that won their semifinal matches and are playing on a drop-in pitch that is expected to be friendly for the batsmen.
New Zealand, who are first timers in a World Cup, will eye to make today a history while Australia will seek to claim their fifth title as the number one.
Australia Team
AJ Finch, DA Warner, SPD Smith, MJ Clarke (C), SR Watson, GJ Maxwell, JP Faulkner, BJ Haddin (wk), MG Johnson, MA Starc, JR Hazlewood
New Zealand Team
MJ Guptill, BB McCullum (C), KS Williamson, LRPL Taylor, GD Elliott, CJ Anderson, L Ronchi (wk), DL Vettori, MJ Henry, TG Southee, TA Boult
-With The Daily Star input
