BREAKING: Australia has won the 2015 Cricket World Cup, defeating New Zealand in the final by 7 wickets
Australian captain Michael Clarke has scored a crucial half century as Australia chased down New Zealand’s first innings total of 183 in the 34th over.
The match will be Clarke’s final one day international of his career, and is a fitting send off for a man with such an admirable record in one day cricket.
» Full 2015 Cricket World Cup scorecard
» Cricket World Cup final live blog
» VIDEO: McCullum’s crucial dismissal
Australia’s chase looked in doubt early, with Trent Boult snagging the wicket of Aaron Finch early. At 1/2, Australia counterattacked through David Warner, who made a quickfire 45.
His demise brought Clarke to the crease to join Steve Smith, and together they set about assuring victory. Smith played in the mould he has all summer, looking comfortable throughout his innings even though he walked to the crease at 1/2.
Clarke had some nervous moments early in his innings, with New Zealand bowlers targeting him and Brendon McCullum setting aggressive fields.
Clarke was out for 72, while Smith capped off his tournament with an unbeaten half century.
It wasn’t to be on the day for the Black Caps, who had been so impressive all tournament.
Their problems began in the very first over, when McCullum, trying to get his side off to another fast start after he chose to bat first, was skittled by Mitchell Starc.
The New Zealanders were rattled early, and their batting never fully recovered.
Mitchell Johnson jagged the vital wicket of Kane Williamson after Glenn Maxwell snuck one past the outside edge of the in-form Martin Guptill.
A good partnership between Ross Taylor and semi-final hero Grant Elliott saw the Kiwis to 3/150, but losing 7/33 thanks to some good bowling from Johnson and Faulkner saw them post an under par total.
Mitchell Johnson had the figures of 3/30, while Starc had 2/20 and Faulkner 3/36.
The New Zealand innings was summed up by the last-wicket runout, with Tim Southee caught short of his ground by a clever piece of fielding from Glenn Maxwell.
Despite the relatively early departure of Finch and Warner for Australia, and Clarke’s early battles, Australia looked comfortable in tracking down the total.
Clarke nearly iced the match with a flurry of boundaries, ensuring it was a stylish send-off from limited overs cricket. It was spoiled somewhat when he chopped New Zealand quick Henry onto his stumps for 74 from 72 balls.
The win will be Clarke’s final ODI match, and could also be New Zealand legend Daniel Vettori’s ODI swansong.
It is Australia’s fifth Cricket World Cup victory, and they sit well ahead of India and the West Indies who each have two. They also become the first team to win the tournament on every continent that it’s been hosted.
Clarke bid an emotional farewell to the game in his post-match interview.
“Thanks to every Australian. Thanks to every cricket supporter out there.
“It’s been an honour and a privileged to represent my country. Tonight is extra special,” Clarke said.
“I am over the moon. We played really well tonight.”
He addressed the tragic death of Phillip Hughes, which has been one of the constants of the summer for Australian cricket.
“Tonight is dedicated to our little brother and team-mate Phillip Hughes.
“For everybody in Australian cricket, it has been a really tough few months. We have played this World Cup with 16 players.”
Brendon McCullum was reflective on the Kiwis’ amazing run to the final.
“It’s been one hell of a ride for us, right the way through. We played some outstanding cricket. We ran into an outstanding team in Australia, who continue to set the standard.
“Michael Clarke bows out on a high note, they deserved to win. It probably unfolded not as planned, but we got ourselves back in the game at 3 for 150.
“With 180, you still dare to dream could have ended up differently with a couple of things going our way. This is what you ask for as a cricketer, we’ve had the opportunity.
“We’ve forged memories and friendships that will last forever. Didn’t lift the trophy but no regrets, the brand of cricket we’ve played and we walk away with our heads held high. It’s the greatest time of our lives and that’s how we tried to play the game, with a free spirit and heart.
“I still think we can be very proud of our achievements in this tournament.”
Australia coach Darren Lehmann was ecstatic for his players, though they did thank him by tipping a bucket of ice on him.
“They’ve been fantastic over the six weeks and the support we’ve had is unbelievable,” Lehmann said.
Steve Smith was a little lost for words after hitting the winning runs, but did manage to describe the feeling of winning the World Cup.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. We said we wanted to play out best games at the end of the tournament. To win three down is amazing… The bowlers set it up for us. Thanks for everyone coming out.”
Shane Watson complimented Brendon McCullum and his side for their fantastic run through the tournament.
“They’ve been the form side of world cricket the last six months, Brendon McCullum has done an incredible job, they have match-winners through their team. We’re incredibly glad to have won,” Watson said.
Nick
Guest
i guess if you counted only the half time scores in the 105 odd years of All Black dominance it might even out? Maybe? Is that what you're thinking?
Renegade
Guest
Whatever helps you sleep bud...
Nick
Guest
Haddin really is one of the most immature and utterly spiteful men in world sport. Very good player, no doubt but he'll get his in turn. It was great to see all that garbage spewed by Clarke and co in the wake of Hughes death was simply that, meaningless garbage. Didn't take long for them to drift back to the habits of old. Boys parading as men, puffed up egotists forgetting they play a game for a living.
Nick
Guest
Actually, clearly the results suggest CWCs aren't as competitive as RWCs. You just pointed out that one sides won 4 out of last 5.
Nick
Guest
Hopefully. The NZ test side has had a good run, that might not last till summer next
Nick
Guest
ODIs are more like 7s than test rugby. Like for like you must compare the test sides to each other. If you do that its a non contest, ABs smoke them
AdamG
Guest
our cricketers are way more dominant at winning world cups than the All Blacks.
SpongeBob
Guest
So what you're saying is they're the Penrith of cricket?
dsf
Guest
Well done australia, absolutely smashed us. Well done to michael clarke. Really hurt seeing our batting order collapse and watching the send offs from the haddin and co, rubbing salt into the wound... 25 more years.
Sandy
Guest
I did wonder who he was but I didn't hear the commentators telling us. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, I just did a search and found a video of Nugget and Boof giving a tour of the dressing room, Steve Smith...a bit messy, that made me laugh. Cheers anchorman.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Unlike Johnson, who picked it up when the pressure was really on. Two great bowling performances from him in the semi and the final.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Fortunately for both Aussie and Kiwi fans we won't have to wait too much longer to see these two great sides clash in Tests. They have six Tests - 3 in each country - back to back over next summer. Mouth watering stuff.
anchorman
Guest
Well done to the boys for their win, but even more so for their embracing of Nugget the change room mascot. It was great to see the boys include him in the celebrations and give him the chance to hold the trophy. Was touching to see Boof call Nugget over to have a photo take with he and Nugget holding the trophy. Well done bot for the win , but even more so for your embracing of Nugget.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
My thoughts: • There’s no doubt about it, Australia just rocks when it comes to World Cup Finals. Apart from the 1987 World Cup, where Australia was still clearly the better side in the Final, Australia has absolutely dominated every final since then – against Pakistan (99), India (03), and Sri Lanka (07). Now New Zealand (15). It’s been desolation! Australia doesn’t just win, they win so convincingly it’s not funny. • Everything people were saying about the MCG was true. New Zealand couldn’t hit the big shots that go for four or six in New Zealand, they didn’t have the crowd support, and they couldn’t swing the ball. • I mean no disrespect to New Zealand, but I really thought that South Africa would be a bigger challenge in the World Cup Final. New Zealand made it to the final by playing a very risky-type of cricket, with McCullum batting like a madman at the beginning. On the big stage, I thought it would come unstuck, and it did. South Africa had a more controlled side and more depth, and I think would have been a better opponent for Australia in the final. • McCullum’s early dismissal didn’t surprise me. His style of cricket is very risky, and it either works or it doesn’t. I thought he was silly for trying the big shots before he even touched the ball once with his bat! • I felt bad for him when I heard how much of a big deal the commentators were making of it. Nicholas even asked him how he felt about the first over in the post-match interview. Yikes! He’s been important to New Zealand, but they didn’t lose the match because he stuffed up. There were other players in the NZ side who didn’t stand up. You know New Zealand were 3-140-odd? It’s not all McCullum’s fault. • What was with Maxwell’s very wicket? He just rolled his arm over and did nothing special! • Stark is just a freakish ODI player. The fact that he has the best strike-rate of any ODI player and is in the early stages of his career is astonishing. • I’ll be honest, I was never a huge fan of Faulkner’s bowling, but he turned that game. He deserved to be MOTM, and really his bowling was fantastic in the end. He’s convinced me! • New Zealand really crumbled in the middle there. They just didn’t have the depth that an Australia or South Africa possessed. • Finch hasn’t looked good in either the semi-final or final. He just probes for the ball, hoping for contact, and doesn’t move his feet. • Steve Smith, on the other hand, moves his feet beautifully – from the first ball to the last. He’s the future. He just handled that game like he’s been playing for years. • It was kind of a boring game, like travelling on cruise control on 100km down a straight highway. I mean really Australia didn’t seem to do much chasing that total down. Yeah, if it wasn’t the World Cup Final, I’d have stopped watching that ages ago. • The best team won the tournament. I picked an Australia v South Africa Final at the start of the tournament, and actually thought SA had the depth to match it with Australia. But Australia is such a deep side. Their batting goes down to 9, with Mitch Johnson. They have a glut of good fast bowlers – Stark being the world’s best ODI bowler, and Mitch came good in the end. The only minor weakness was spin, but Australia has so many part-time bowlers – Watson, Clarke, Smith, etc, that if Maxwell has a bad day, it hardly ever matters.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Amazing stat that, after taking 7-33 against England, Southee took just 4 wickets at an average of 90 from his last six games. Astoundingly, he went at a whopping 8rpo across New Zealand's three finals. Really floundered when the pressure was on.
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
Well, I'm glad I made the trip down from Canberra, reckon I got my money's worth ;) It was a fitting send off for Michael Clarke from ODIs, and although the result was a little lopsided, it was a joy to watch the Aussies do what they do best. Clarke's knock in particular was outstanding. When he hit those four consecutive boundaries the crowd was in raptures. I, for one, will miss him when he eventually retires from Test cricket. I feel a bit bad for NZ as they are probably my favourite ODI team to watch as a neutral. I really do hope they win a Cricket World Cup in the years to come (but hopefully not while they're still holding Bill, or we'd never hear the end of it :) ).
JGK
Roar Guru
Pretty much a perfect game from Aust today.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Utterly dominant win by Australia. Clinical in all facets. And Clarke's brilliant send-off innings was fitting to mute those who have incessantly criticised him at any opportunity in recent times. NZ will feel very low now but geez they have an incredibly bright future in all 3 forms of the game. I think this will be their greatest ever era of cricket.
jamesb
Guest
Again well done to Australia and commiserations to NZ. Australia had too much depth and firepower with both bat and ball. Australia can bat down to eight, while Johnson and Starc at nine and ten are handy with the bat. With the ball, Australia had six genuine bowling options with the three fast men and the three allrounders. Australia didn't need Faulkner to be the finisher with the bat or rely on part timers Clarke or Smith with the ball. Australia's bowlers were outstanding right throughout the WC. The only time they were expensive was against Sri Lanka, but in that game, Doherty was included and didn't exactly set the world on fire. When Smith went to three, Australia's batting had solidarity. While Maxi had an impact similar to Andrew Symonds in the '03 World Cup. All in all, great win boys and a great way for Clarke to bow out of the one-dayers.
Buzzard
Guest
5 cricket world cups says it all!!! Head & shoulders over the world!!!