Australia lifts maiden T20 World Cup, beats New Zealand by 8 wickets

Australia, led by Aaron Finch, beat New Zealand by 8 wickets to win the T20 World Cup title at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on Sunday. It was Glenn Maxwell switch-hit that sealed the title for the five-time ODI World Cup winners. As soon as Maxwell hit the winning runs, the whole of the Australian team ran onto the pitch and hugged Mitchell Marsh and Maxwell.

For Australia, David Warner set the stage for them with a handy 53 off 38 balls. Then it was a pure Marsh and Maxwell show. While Marsh remained unbeaten on 77, Maxwell remained not out on 28.

Earlier in the match, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson struck a beautiful 85 to take his team to a competitive 172/4 in 20 overs. Put into bat, New Zealand struggled in the first 10 overs with Martin Guptill’s painful 28 off 35 balls slowing the proceedings.

However, Williamson upped the ante and smacked the bowlers at will. During his stay in the middle, he hit 10 fours and three sixes in his 47-ball knock.

In the last 10 overs, New Zealand scored an astounding 115 runs to make a match of the ‘Grand Finale’.

After a quiet 16 deliveries, he shifted gears and it was no stopping him.

But once, he decided that he needed to get a move-on, he hit all those copybook shots in his own free-will scoring 70 off the next 31 deliveries.

The Black Caps captain showed why he is one of the modern-day greats. His calculated innings said it all.

He first upped the ante in the 11th over when he launched into Mitchell Starc (0/60 in 4 overs) taking 19 off his over including a dropped catch behind square by Josh Hazlewood.

The manner in which he creamed Starc through mid-off by charging down the track, was the most delightful one among the three that he smashed in that over.

When Starc came for his third over and team’s 16th, his confidence was already shaken and Williamson made a mockery of him with class of Test match batting mixed with a dash of T20 flair.

It was a ‘half-century’ of ignominy that he would like to forget and also forgive Josh Hazlewood for what could possibly be a ‘match-turning bungle. For Australia, Hazlewood (3/16 in 4 overs) was the pick of the bowlers. He was supported by Adam Zampa (1/24 in 4 overs).