After winning the toss and electing to bat New Zealand posted 183 runs in the first innings of the Cricket World Cup Final against Australia at the MCG.
Mitchell Starc gave Australia the perfect start in the opening over, claiming the wicket of New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum for a duck.
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The pressure continued to build on the Black Caps as Martin Guptill joined his opening partner in the sheds, bowled by Glenn Maxwell for 15 off 34 deliveries.
New Zealand’s trio of top batsmen continued to crumble as Mitchell Starc claimed Kane Williamson caught and bowled for just 12 runs of 33 deliveries.
Three wickets down with just 39 runs on the board and it was up to Ross Taylor and New Zealand’s semi-final Grant Elliott to dig in and steady the innings.
Elliott and Taylor went on to bring up a 50 partnership from 69 balls, and then the 100 from 128 balls to put the Black Caps in sight of a defendable total.
However when Taylor fell off the first ball of the batting powerplay, New Zealand’s innings suffered a second collapse, as Corey Anderson and Luke Ronchi both departed for ducks.
In the 42nd over, Australia claimed the key wicket of Elliott, falling for 83 to a deceptive slower ball from James Faulkner.
The innings then came to an abrupt end off the back of some outstanding reflex fielding from Glenn Maxwell, catching Tim Southee short at the non-strikers end to see New Zealand all out for 183.
Jameswm
Guest
Awesome bowling effort as it was in the semi.
Andrew
Guest
Fantastic bowling Australia as was the fielding now back it up with the bat. The Aussies look very hungry for victory and are half way there.