This Day That Year: Australia won the Cricket World Cup for fifth time

 

Under the captaincy of Michael Clarke, the Australian Cricket Team became the 2^nd host country defeating New Zealand easily played at fully packed Melbourne Cricket Ground, MCG on 29^th March 2015.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and decided to bat first. Mitchell Starc produced a sensational yorker to get rid of Kiwi captain McCullum in the very first over of the innings. Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill struggled against top-quality bowling of Australia but held their ends. At the end of the first 10 overs, New Zealand made 31 for 1.

The part-timer Maxwell dismissed Martin Guptill and then Mitchell Johnson got rid of Kane Williamson to leave Kiwis in big trouble at 39 for 3. Ross Taylor and Grant Elliot steadied the innings for the visitors putting some pressure on Australian bowlers. Both Kiwi batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking making life tough for the hosts.

Elliot continued his superb form and reached his fifty off 51 balls. James Faulkner provided the breakthrough for Australia dismissing dangerous Ross Taylor for 40. Taylor and Elliot added 111 runs for the 4^th wicket. The Australian bowlers kept on picking wickets at regular intervals. On the other hand, Elliot remained steady but lost his wicket too. Australia bowled out New Zealand for a modest total of 183 in 45 overs.

Chasing 184 runs to win, it was not an ideal start for the hosts as Aaron Finch provided a simple return catch to Trent Boult. David Warner and Steve Smith steadied the innings putting the bad balls away for boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking. Australia made 56 for 1 at the end of the first 10 overs.

Matt Henry struck for Kiwis dismissing the dangerous Warner to put some jitters. The Australian captain Clarke and Smith looked in complete control making life tough for the Kiwis. Both Australian batsmen played according to merit. Clarke completed his fifty off 56 balls while Smith also reached his half-century off 66 balls. As Australia inched closer to the World Cup, Henry dismissed Clarke. Clarke and Smith added 112 runs for the 3^rd wicket. Smith hit the winning runs with a boundary to help Australia win the match by 7 wickets with 101 balls to spare.

It was a dominating performance by the Australian team who lost only one game in the entire tournament to New Zealand at Auckland. For his 3 for 36 in 9 overs, Faulkner was awarded the man of the match while Starc was awarded the man of the series for his 22 wickets.

This was Australia’s fifth World Cup title which is a record to date. They have won the title in 1987 with Allan Border being the captain, 1999 as Steve Waugh captain won back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2007 with Ricky Pointing the captain.

This Day That Year: Australia won the 2015 World Cup