Mitchell Starc’s outstanding swing bowling was the upside to an otherwise miserable day in Auckland for Australia.
Starc claimed figures of 6-28 from nine overs to give his side a sniff of victory after they were skittled for 151 by New Zealand.
“Mitchell Starc was the standout,” Michael Clarke said, labelling the paceman a “genius”.
“That individual performance was as good as you will see in any format of the game.”
Starc was taken off by Clarke with the hosts’ chase in the balance at 4-89.
He had bowled 2.5 overs after the dinner break interrupted New Zealand’s innings, due to Australia’s shocking collapse.
Starc returned to dismiss Luke Ronchi, Adam Milne and Tim Southee, putting Australia within reach of what would have been an incredible win.
It raised the question – as national selector Mark Waugh raised in his commentating duties – should Starc have kept bowling?
“It’s pretty tough to bowl a 10-over spell,” Clarke said.
“It was more to give him two overs off.
“He was bowling beautifully and I knew that if we could find a way to get another breakthrough, I thought Mitch would have a huge opportunity to go through the tail as he just about did.”
The World Cup co-hosts looked set for a simple victory when they skipped to 1-78 with Brendon McCullum at the crease and in ominous touch.
McCullum was struck on the arm by a 147km/h delivery from Mitchell Johnson in the third over, but continued to plunder runs with remarkable ease.
McCullum powered past 50 in 21 balls – equalling the mark he set last week against England for the fastest World Cup half-century.
Pat Cummins dismissed the dangerman, but it was Starc who starred.
The left-armer was twice on a hat-trick, clean bowling Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Milne and Southee with brilliant deliveries.
Trent Boult kept out two balls from Starc to help deny Australia, with Kane Williamson guiding the hosts to victory with a towering straight six.
The Blackcaps were full of praise for the 25-year-old, who made the game far closer than it should have been.
“Starc was superb and swung the ball throughout the innings, and made it tough,” Williamson said.
McCullum added that “both teams showed what quality their bowlers are. Starc for them and Boult for us”.
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