Australia win 1st T20 World Cup

ICC T20 Champions Australia. Courtesy Cricket Australia Tweet

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (AP/UNB) — Mitchell Marsh and David Warner smashed half-centuries as Australia won their first cricket T20 World Cup with an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final on Sunday.

New Zealand lost the all-important toss and scored 172-4. Skipper Kane Williamson, dropped on 21, led the way by scoring 85 off 48 balls. Josh Hazlewood finished with 3-16.

Marsh smashed an unbeaten 77 off 50 balls, and Warner made 53 off 38 as Australia reached 173-2 in 18.5 overs.

UNB adds: Mitchell Marsh hit 77 not out after an outstanding bowling spell by Josh Hazlewood to help Australia lift their maiden T20 World Cup title against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday.

Hazlewood's 3/16 off 4 overs helped restrict New Zealand to 172 for 4 before all-rounder Marsh, bolstered by in-form David Warner, struck a match-winning half-century to inflict yet more misery on New Zealand in ICC World Cup Finals.

Kane Williamson, leading his side in a third consecutive ICC world championship final since 2019 (NZ also played the final of the 2015 ODI World Cup under Brendan McCullum), compiled a masterful 85 to help guide his team to a challenging total after losing the toss.

In reply, David Warner and Marsh hit a fifty each to guide the mighty Aussies to their maiden T20 World Cup in their second finals appearance. Australia played their first T20 World Cup final back in 2010 which they lost to England.

Warner won the player of the tournament award for his outstanding performances throughout the tournament (289 runs), and Marsh won the award for player of the final for taking the game away from New Zealand from the moment he hit the first ball he faced for six.

“This is huge. To be the first Australian team to be able to do it. So proud. We knew our backs were against the wall. We had some great individual performances, some great team performances. Can't believe people wrote him off saying he was done (Warner),” Aaron Finch, Australian captain, told the broadcaster after the match.

Earlier, after being dropped on 17 by Josh Hazlewood, Williamson smashed 85 off 48 balls to propel his team to 172 for four in 20 overs.

Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first. The teams that won the toss and fielded first in Dubai in this World Cup won most of the matches (11 out of 12 prior to the final).

It was the highest score by a captain in the T20 World Cup finals. And the joint highest innings in the T20 World Cup finals with Marlon Samuel’s 85 not out from 2016.

During the powerplay, New Zealand remained mostly quiet as they scored 32 for one. In the next four overs, the Blackcaps scored only 25 runs without any further loss of wicket.

In the 11th over, Williamson hit Mitchell Starc for three fours and amassed 19 runs in that over. When Williamson was on fire, Martin Guptil lwas slightly slow, but his slow stay in the middle ended off the first ball of the 12th over when he went for the slog-sweep, but couldn’t hit the ball well and got caught at the deep mid-wicket area.

Williamson picked up his fifty off 32 balls hitting Glenn Maxwell for two sixes in the 13th over.

At the end of 15 overs, New Zealand were at 114 for two. In the 16th over, Williamson went mad at Starc and smashed him off four fours and one six to score 22 runs with a dot.

However, in the 18th over, Hazlewood scalped two wickets and kept New Zealand down under 180 runs.

New Zealand’s highest partnership came in the third wicket when Williamson and Guptil added 68 off 37 balls. The Blackcaps eventually, ended up on 172 for four in 20 overs. They couldn’t hit the ball well in the last two overs when they posted only 23 runs.

“We were trying to get a platform and the surface was holding a fraction. But typical here in Dubai. It was nice to build some partnerships and get what we thought was a competitive total. Only to be chased superbly by Australia. They're a fantastic side. We certainly made every effort,” New Zealand captain told the broadcaster after their second World Cup final defeat to Australia. - UNB