Steve Smith becomes 6th batsman to score fifties in semi-final and final of same World Cup
Steve Smith becomes 6th batsman to score fifties in semi-final and final of same World Cup
Walking out at 2 for 1 against New Zealand in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Steven Smith registered fifty. He added 61 with David Warner for the second wicket and over hundred with Michael Clarke for the third. In the process Smith became the sixth batsman (after Mike Brearley, David Boon, Javed Miandad, Aravinda de Silva, and earlier in the day, Grant Elliott) to register fifties in the semi-final and final of the same edition of World Cup cricket. Read: Michael Clarke bows out in style, emulates Imran Khan at ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Fifties in semi-final and final of same edition of World Cup cricket
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| Year | Semi-final | Final | Result |
| Mike Brearley | 1979 | 53 | 64 | Lost |
| David Boon | 1987 | 65 | 75 | Won |
| Javed Miandad | 1992 | 57* | 58 | Won |
| Aravinda de Silva | 1996 | 66 | 107* | Won |
| Grant Elliott | 2015 | 84* | 68* | Lost |
| Steve Smith | 2015 | 105 | 56* | Won |
Brendon McCullum, Corey Anderson, and Aaron Finch had also scored fifties in the semi-finals, but Elliott and Smith were the only ones to add second fifty to their tally. Full updates: Australia vs New Zealand ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Final
Earlier, Clarke hit 74 in his last One-Day International (ODI) to lead Australia to their fifth Cricket World Cup title with a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in disappointing final on Sunday. A record crowd of 93,013 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) saw power-packed Australia bowl out the Black Caps for 183 and then gallop to victory in the 34th over. FULL SCORECARD: Australia vs New Zealand ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Final at MCG
Clarke, who announced his retirement from the one-day format on the eve of the final, added 112 runs for the third wicket with his likely successor Steve Smith, who returned unbeaten on 56. The emphatic win was set up by the left-arm fast bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, James Faulkner and Mitchell Johnson who shared eight wickets after the Kiwis elected to bat on good pitch. New Zealand messed up their maiden appearance in the title clash of cricket’s showpiece event, falling like nine pins against the hostile Australian bowling. Aus vs NZ, final: Michael Clarke scores 58th ODI half-century