Home ›› 15 Nov 2021 ›› Front
David Warner and Mitchell Marsh completed their demolition job against New Zealand and earned Australia the only remaining major trophy in cricket, The T20 World Cup.
Batting first, New Zealand managed to score 172-4 in 20 overs which Australia chased down with utmost ease as Warner and Marsh clobbered the Blackcaps bowling that gave them a victory by eight wickets with seven balls in hand.
Now Australia have all the World Cup trophies in their cabinet, ranging from the Under-19 World Cup, women’s one-day and T20 World Cup, men’s one-day World Cup and now the T20 World Cup.
Aaron Finch won the very important toss at Dubai International Cricket Stadium and sent the Tasmanian neighbours to bat first.
Josh Hazlewood removed ‘dangerman’ Daryl Mitchell quickly, making way for Kane Williamson, who had been struggling throughout the tournament.
But the final saw a different Williamson, who played a masterclass of 85 runs off just 48 balls to take New Zealand to a decent total.
The Blackcaps skipper hit 10 boundaries and three sixes, before getting out off Hazlewood.
Williamson rode on his luck after being dropped by Hazelwood and added 64 more runs, but in the end, he ended up on the losing side in a white-ball final for the third time in a row.
Hazelwood, who won a final just a month ago on the same venue, coincidentally wearing a yellow jersey (Chennai Super Kings), also came out as the best bowler for his team as he took three wickets for just 16 runs against the Blackcaps.
Chasing 173, the highest in any T20 World Cup final, Australia had a quiet start before Warner banged back-to-back boundaries against Tim Southee and showed a clear intention of a demolition job.
Finch departed in the next over, but Marsh joined the party with Warner. And together, they added 92 runs from just 59 balls to snatch away the game from the Blackcaps.
Trent Boult bowled Warner after he completed his half-century and his job. But Marsh stayed put, and the younger son of Geoff Marsh stayed till the end to ensure Australia’s victory over their Tasmanian rivals.
Marsh remained unbeaten on 77, from 50 balls where he hit six boundaries and four sixes. He reached half-century off just 31 balls, making him the quickest half-centurion in a T20 World Cup final.
Glen Maxwell entered the stage late, but the winning stroke came from his bat. Reverse sweeps had become a death-trap for quite a few cricketers throughout the tournament but gave Maxwell immortality as the ball ran to the ropes through short third-man area, ensuring an explosion in the Australian dug-out.
Brief Score:
New Zealand 172-4 (20 Overs), Williamson 85, Guptill 28, Phillips 18; Hazelwood 3-16
Australia 173-2 (18.5 Overs), Mitchel Marsh 77*, Warner 53, Maxwell 28; Boult 2-18
Australia won by eight wickets.
