New Zealand team in action during World Cup 2015.
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Trans-Tasmanian rivalry will reach a new high when Australia and New Zealand lock horns in the title clash of World Cup 2015. After a month and a half of cricketing battles, the two teams have emerged as the strongest of the lot and will play for the coveted trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
While the Aussies are four-time champions, the side did lose to New Zealand in the Pool A league stage. New Zealand made the most of the narrow win in front of home fans and have gone from strength to strength in the tournament. The side would be looking to maintain its unbeaten record and claim their first-ever World Cup title.
Both teams are under inspirational leaders. While New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has been extensively praised for galvanizing his players in the tournament, Michael Clarke has announced he will quit ODIs after Sunday's final - yet another reason why the Aussies would look to give it their all. Both teams defeated strong oppositions in the semis - New Zealand beat South Africa in a thriller while Aussies dominated defending champions India. Momentum is favouring both teams but there can only be one winner between two sides that absolutely deserve to be in the final. Here's how they have earned their place in the summit clash:
Australia's Road to Final:
Aussies Wallop Arch-Rivals England
Aaron Finch in action vs England.
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England's misery in World Cup 2015 began with a 111-run defeat against the Aussies. The hosts in Melbourne were dominant from the word go and sent Eoin Morgan and his team packing without breaking even a single drop of sweat.(Australia Crush England)
Asked to bat first, the fearsome Aussie batting line-up scored 342 runs, courtesy Aaron Finch's 128-ball 135. Fifties from George Bailey and Glenn Maxwell added glitter to the batting carnival with Steven Finn claiming a hat-trick but with little bragging rights despite the feat.
James Taylor's gallant 98 was the only highlight of the England chase as Mitchell Marsh's five for 33 ensured a comfortable win in 41.5 overs.
Australia vs Bangladesh at Brisbane Washed Out
Australia had to share points with Bangladesh after their match was called off due to Cyclone Marcia.
The Kangaroos' Flight Grounded by High-Flying Kiwis
Mitchell Starc has been Australia's lethal weapon.
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Australia's only defeat in World Cup 2015 so far came against hosts New Zealand in Auckland. In what is considered one of the best matches of the tournament, Australia lost by one wicket despite Mitchell Starc's dramatic six for 28.(New Zealand Edge Out Australia)
Australia's batting shockingly collapsed in a heap after the side decided to set a target. Trent Boult struck like a lightening and five times at that. His effort ensured a much-acclaimed batting unit could only muster 151 on the board. Brad Haddin top-scored with 43.
The Kiwis got off to a flyer with captain Brendon McCullum hitting 50 off just 24. The twist in the tale came when Starc (6/28) decided to hit the New Zealanders with full-length missiles -- several crashing either on the pads or straight into the stumps. New Zealand went from 78/1 to 146/9 but Kane Williamson (45 off 42) eventually managed to pull of crucial three points.
Hosts Decimate Spirited Afghans
David Warner scored 178 against Afghanistan.
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After being left in complete shambles by the Kiwis, Aussie batting came out all guns blaziing at WACA. The result? A massive 275-run win against minnows Afghanistan. (Australia Inflict Record Defeat on Afghanistan)
Opting to bat first, Aussies got off to a flyer, thanks to David Warner. The opener's bat boomed all over the Perth venue and saw 178 being hit off a mere 133 balls. Steve Smith's responsible 95 off 98 and Maxwell's fiery 39-ball 88 further ruined the figures for Afghan bowlers.
While it was nearly impossible to chase down the total or even come close, Afghans abjectly surrendered by the 38th over with Mitchell Johnson spewing venom and walking away with four victims.
Four-Time World Champions Pound Sri Lanka Hard
Glenn Maxwell slammed Sri Lanka
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In another display of batting pomp, Australia scored 376 runs to help themselves to a 64-run win against the Sri Lankans at Sydney Cricket Ground. (Maxwell Ton Propels Australia Into the Quarters)
It was Smith who laid the foundation after his side chose to bat. The versatile cricketer hit 72 off 88 before Michael Clarke made the most of his return to the team and captaincy to stitch together a run-a-ball 68. The fireworks were provided by Shane Watson (67 off 41) and 'Mad' Maxwell (53-ball 102).
James Faulkner returned to the spotlight with a commendable three for 48 to skittle cap Sri Lanka's valiant fight for 312. It was an innings which saw Kumar Sangakkara slam 104 off 107 but in a losing cause.
Mighty Australia Strangle Minnows Scotland
Mitchell Starc 2503WC
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Australia won the toss and this time, chose to field. In what was an early end to a one-sided contest, the hosts in Hobart registered a seven-wicket win. (Australia Rout Scotland)
Starc returned to haunt the opposition and his four for 14 helped his team bowl out Scotland for a paltry 130. Pat Cummins too struck terror with three wickets.
In reply, Clarke chose to open the innings and his 47 off 47 was good enough to script a win in 15.2 overs.
Australia Knock Out Pakistan in Quarters
Shane Watson guided Australia to a win v Pakistan
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Aussie bowling once again came good, this time in the quarters. In what appeared like a comfortable six-wicket win against Pakistan though was anything but that. (Australia Down Pakistan)
Pakistan chose to bat first at Adelaide Oval but the batting really never got off the mark. Josh Hazlewood claimed four wickets and it left Pakistan without a total that could really threaten the Aussies. Apart from Haris Sohail's 41, no other batsman could contribute much in the eventual total of 213.
It was expected to be an easy chase but pacer Wahab Riaz bowled his heart out to expose chinks in Aussie batting armour. He got the ball to bounce at ferocious pace and gave Shane Watson a torrid time. He claimed two wickets but Watson (64 not out) and Smith (65) managed to take Aussies home and into the semis.
Australia Dominate Defending Champions India in Semis
Steve Smith's ton sealed the deal for Australia vs India.
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Australia outclassed India in almost every department of the game when the two teams faced off in the semifinal at Sydney Cricket Ground. The massive 95-run win for Aussies only highlighted the class the players showed on the field.(Australia Oust India)
Opting to bat, Australia's innings was powered by Steve Smith's ton and Aaron Finch's carefully-constructed 81. The hosts scored 328/7 against a bowling attack that had previously bowled out its opposition in seven matches on the trot.
India's reply was rather feeble with none of the power-hitters really getting to play the long knock. Shikhar Dhawan did manage 45 off 41 at the top but Aussie pacers combined to halt the Men in Blue on 233. Australia thus sealed their place in a 7th World Cup final and now have a shot at a 5th title.
New Zealand's Road to Final:
Grant Elliott leads the way after New Zealand's victory over South Africa in the World Cup semi-final.
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New Zealand Outplay Sri Lanka
They may have lost the first toss of World Cup 2015 but New Zealand began their campaign on a high. Batting first in Christchurch, the team slammed 331 runs and then bowled out the Lankans for 233 - a 98-run triumph.(New Zealand Win by 98 Runs)
While Martin Guptill (49), Brendon McCullum (65) and Kane Williamson (57) laid the foundation, Corey Anderson struck terror with his 75 off 46. In the chase, pacers Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Adam Milne combined with veteran spinner Daniel Vettori to claim two wickets apiece.
New Zealand Keep Scotland at Bay
Bolstered by their opening win, the Kiwis were never expected to show any mercy towards minnows Scotland. At Dunedin however, the hosts did wobble just a bit but managed to secure a three-wicket win eventually.(Kiwis Record 3-Wicket Win vs Minnows)
Boult and Southee claimed two each while Vettori took three to bowl out Scotland for a paltry 142. What was meant to be an easy chase became tough when the batting floundered against the Scots. In the end, Williamson's 38 and Grant Elliott's 29 proved to be the clincher and the match finished by the 25th over.
New Zealand Toy With Hapless England
If the Scottish batting against the Kiwis was woeful, the English were outrightly disastrous. Asked to bowl first, the Kiwis made mincemeat of Eoin Morgan's team and bowled them out for 123 at Wellington. Southee was the superstar of the match -- claiming seven for 33. In the chase, McCullum whacked 77 of 25 in yet another fiery batting display from him.(England Crushed)
New Zealand Edge Out Australia
Details of the match above.
New Zealand Tame Novices Afghanistan
The Afghans were one of the most spirited 'minnows' of World Cup 2015. Even they could not stop New Zealand from cruising to a six-wicket win. Against the mighty bowling attack, the Afghans did fare better than the English and Aussies had. Batting first, their score of 186 though was never going to pose a massive threat. Vettori claimed four for 18 while Guptill hit 57 to help their team seal the match in 36.1 overs.
New Zealand See Off Spirited Bangladesh
Bangladesh batsmen showed appreciable determination against the Kiwis in Hamilton but could not stage an upset of sorts. New Zealand put Bangladesh in to bat - perhaps expecting an early finish to the match. Instead, Mahmudullah slammed 128 to help his side score 288. Guptill returned the favour by hitting a century but he did lose McCullum and Williamson quite early into the chase. It was Taylor's vital 56 that helped the side to a win in the penultimate over of the match.
New Zealand Beat West Indies in the Quarters to Maintain Unbeaten Run
Wellington witnessed one of the most destructive batting seen on a cricket field ever. Guptill was unstoppable against the West Indies and became the second-highest ODI scorer with a 163-ball 237. The mammoth score of 393 was always going to test the West Indies. Chris Gayle did threaten momentarily with a 33-ball 61 but his side eventually crashed by 143 runs with Boult's four breaking the back of the former world champions.
New Zealand Defeat South Africa in Thrilling Semifinal
Kiwis defeated the Proteas by four wickets and with just one ball to spare in a semi-final that was an absolute cracker. Both sides had never made it beyond a World Cup semi-final and looked determined to do just that at Auckland.(Kiwis Set for Final)
South Africa won the toss and managed to score 281 in a rain-affected match. Captain AB de Villiers did most of the hitting once again and scored 65* off 45. All-rounder Corey Anderson claimed three for 72.
New Zealand's reply was strong to begin with. Captain McCullum hit 59 off just 26 to send shockwaves all around the rather small ground. Morne Morkel however eventually managed to dismiss him and claimed three wickets to peg the hosts back. In the end, a heroic knock from South Africa-born Grant Elliott (84* off 73) took the side home with one ball to spare. After 6 unsuccessful attempts, New Zealand had made it to the final.
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