Australia vs New Zealand, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Final: Australia innings highlights

Australia trounced New Zealand in a one-sided final to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Michael Clarke celebrated his final One-Day International (ODI) in tremendous fashion, scoring a superb 74 and winning the World Cup. Shiamak Unwalla looks at the highlights of the game.Australia vs New Zealand, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Final: New Zealand innings highlights

1. An early ThunderBoult: New Zealand would have been hoping for an early wicket to get the ball rolling, and Trent Boult did just that. Aaron Finch could only get an inside edge onto his pads as he offered Boult an easy catch. Australia were two for one, and New Zealand were back in the game. Full Scorecard: Australia vs New Zealand, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

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2. 63 again: The number 63 has been at the back of everyone’s mind ever since Phillip Hughes’ demise. Once again — almost symbolically — the No. 63 made its mark, as David Warner was dismissed for 45 with the score reading 63.  Top 10 batsmen in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

3. Michael Clarke goes out in style, but with tears: Michael Clarke has had a tremendous World Cup, leading his side with élan and an unmistakable Australian aggressiveness. He had been a bit short on runs though, but chose the grandest stage of them all to show his class. He scored a 72-ball 74 with 10 fours and a six. Top 10 bowlers in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

He was out with just 11 runs to win, and walked off the field to a standing ovation with tears in his eyes. He was congratulated by the New Zealand players and walked into the sunset of his ODI career as a World Cup-winning captain who scored a match-winning half-century in the final. Top 10 fielders in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

4. Steven Smith creates a new record: Steven Smith’s unbelievably good summer culminated with yet another record; he became the only man in history to score five 50-plus World Cup scores in a row. He remained unbeaten on 56 in the final, playing second-fiddle to Clarke, but once again remaining unbeaten at the end. Top 10 wicketkeepers in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

5. Australia make it four in five, and five overall: Australia failed to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 after having won each of the last three editions of the World Cup. They were back to their World Cup-winning ways soon enough though. They have now won four World Cups out of the last five editions, and five out of 11 overall. Their closest competitors are West Indies and India, with two wins each.  ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage

(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek and Cricket fanatic. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)