Dubai, Nov. 15 (BNA) It took Australia seven attempts but under Aaron Finch they finally got their hands on their first 20th World Cup title on Sunday with an eight-wicket win over New Zealand.
The 20-plus cup drought for the most successful one-day cricket team was an aberration for Finch, who had been confident Australia would “correct” the error, Reuters reports.
Mitchell Marsh and David Warner have combined in the Coliseum 92 times to outsmart New Zealand captain Ken Williamson’s team after brilliantly pushing it to a competitive total.
Williamson took advantage of an early delay to launch his team to 172-4 which they ultimately failed to defend.
It was an amazing turnaround for an Australia team that lost five T20 series on the trot heading into the World Cup.
They only came on their own in the semi-finals when they stunned former champion Pakistan, the only unbeaten team in the tournament until then.
Waiting for them in the final was the New Zealand team, the test champion, the best multiform team in the game, which used to reach the finals of world events.
Six years after beating New Zealand to win the World Cup for the fifth time in an ODI, Australia lifted their first world title in 20 matches.
Fireworks lit up the sky to celebrate the success of a team that was written off after a poor buildup.
Before that, Warner and Marsh treated the crowd at the Dubai International Stadium with their fireworks.
BEST WARNER
Warner’s performance reflected his team’s extraordinary journey into the tournament.
His place in the squad was discussed after his Indian Premier League franchise dropped the left hand of their side.
Warner struggled in the preliminary matches but regained Mojo and collected scores from a total of 89 not out, and 49 and 53 in his last three games.
He went out with the man of the tournament and Finch wasn’t surprised.
“You didn’t expect it? I certainly did,” the Australia captain told reporters.
“He’s a person who when his back is against the wall, that’s when you get the best of David Warner.”
Marsh was judged man of the match for his 77th unbeaten 50-ball run, outsmarting Williamson’s 85 from 48 balls.
Thirty-four years after his father Jeff helped Australia win their first ODI World Cup, Marsh played a key role in helping his country win their first 20 world titles.
For New Zealand, who finished second after England at the 2019 ODI World Cup, it was another sadness for the white ball.
Agile as ever, Williamson, 31, was in his praise of Australia while proud of his team’s display.
“If you look at the campaign as a whole, and the kind of cricket we were able to play, I can say we are very proud of our efforts over this time period.
“You get to the final and anything can happen,” he added.