[VIDEO] Australia vs New Zealand highlights: World Cup Final scores, blog

MATCH RESULT:

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat, and were bowled out for 183 from 45 overs. In reply, Australia lost three wickets on their way to 186 runs.

The man of the match was James Faulkner with 3/36 off nine overs, man of the tournament was Mitchell Starc with 22 wickets.

Michael Clarke bows out of the ODI arena as a World Cup winning captain, and Australia win their fifth World Cup, after defeating New Zealand by 7 wickets with 101 balls.

>> CRICKET WORLD CUP FINAL REPORT
>> MITCHELL STARC WINS PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT

MATCH PREVIEW:

Greatness lies at the feet of both New Zealand and Australia as they meet in the 2015 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:30pm (AEDT).

So after six weeks, it comes down to this. Two teams that started this World Cup on February 14 will end it on March 29.

Australia may be the presumptive favourites to win their fifth World Cup via their home ground advantage, but there is little question that New Zealand will hold the well wishes of many neutrals who watch on from their living rooms around the world.

If Australia’s entry to the final is becoming somewhat monotonous in World Cup folklore – this their seventh appearance from 11 editions – then New Zealand’s ticket to Melbourne has been one to warm the heart.

Unencumbered by growing expectation rather than hope of their fan-base, New Zealand have played this World Cup with the verve and vigour normally associated with their greater known sporting export, the All Blacks. Such have they captured the New Zealand public’s imagination that rugby has been jetissoned from the front and back pages. Make no mistake, a ticket to the Black Caps is currently the hottest going around.

That value would have only shot up after New Zealand’s epic victory over South Africa on Tuesday. Let’s be clear, New Zealand have been the best team in this World Cup – the results attest to that.

Yet the challenges are obvious. New Zealand’s reward of an undefeated tournament now places them in the lion’s den, where they need to defeat the home side to win a World Cup. The expansive size of the MCG compares little to New Zealand’s grounds, and may require time to adjust to. Problem is, New Zealand will have none.

While confidence can be gained from the win over Australia in the pool stage, it will likely play little role on Sunday. New Zealand may bowl as well as they did on February 28, but it is unlikely Australia will bat as poorly. Michael Clarke attributed the one-wicket loss that day as “the kick up the backside” that Australia needed – and results certainly point to a ruthlessness since.

There is a sense of building for the big occasion for this Australian team – one that has not peaked so far this tournament. The thrashing of India could still hold flaws for Darren Lehmann to pinpoint, namely allowing what appeared a 370-plus total to be consigned to 328, or allowing India’s openers to grab an early foothold of the semi-final. Such generosity cannot be afforded to a man who recently scored a one-day double hundred, and the other being Brendon McCullum.

Yet the win over India saw Mitchell Starc for once largely resting his match-winning heels, as Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Johnson stepped up. The lack of a frontline spinner is more concerning for Michael Clarke from an over rate perspective than anything else, while James Faulkner has still yet to fire with either bat or ball this World Cup.

The weaknesses for Australia still remain in the batting line-up, one in which Clarke has been somewhat surplus to requirements. Two early wickets may bring the Australian captain to the fore, where his batting fitness will be tested.

How much movement can be gleaned from a flat Melbourne surface remains to be seen, but any lateral movement either in swing or seam can bring Australia’s batting undone. Finally is the knowledge that being rank outsiders, New Zealand can perform with the same panache and freedom that has elevated them to the final, while over-expectation to win may stifle the home side.

Greatness lies at the feet of both New Zealand and Australia on Sunday. For the Black Caps, it is the once-in-a-lifetime chance to finally emerge out of the All Blacks’ shadow and win their first World Cup. For Australia, they stand to become the first team to win the title on every cricket-playing continent. Despite the New Zealand victory earlier in the tournament, Australia can begin with confidence of winning their fifth world crown.