Marsh and Warner go berserk and Australia wins the T20 World Cup
By Kersi Meher-Homji
Australia won her first T20 Cricket World Cup beating New Zealand by 8 wickets this morning.
Dubai has proved a favourite venue for the Aussies as they won both the semi-final last week and the Final this morning on this ground.
Sent in to bat New Zealand scored 4 for 173 in 20 overs. Their main scorer was skipper Kane Williamson who played a superb knock of 85 off only 48 balls hitting 10 elegant fours and three sixes. Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood bowled his in-swingers economically, capturing three wickets conceding only 16 runs in four overs.
Australia lost their skipper Aaron Finch early but David Warner and Mitchell Marsh started their fireworks adding 92 runs for the second wicket off only 59 balls. Warner hit 53 runs off 38 balls belting 4 fours and 3 sixes.
Then Marsh (77 not out off 50 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes) and Glenn Maxwell (28 not out off 18 balls with 4 fours and a six) added 66 runs for the unbroken third wicket and Australia reached the win target with 8 wickets and 7 balls remaining.
And Australia lifted the World Cup. Ozy, ozy ozy, oi, oi, we have won!
Marsh was adjudged Person of the Match and Warner Person of the T20 World Cup.
A delighted Mitchell Marsh said: “I don’t really have words, what an amazing six weeks with this group. Love them to death. [We are] world champs! The coaching staff came up to me in the West Indies and said you’re going to bat three for this tournament and I jumped at it. I have the staff to thank for backing me and getting me up the top there”¦ It’s unbelievable.”
Player of the Tournament David Warner could not hide his ecstasy, a supreme turnaround for him after being previously dropped by his IPL side last month. He said, “I always felt good, for me it was about going back to basics, getting on some hard, synthetic wickets in order to hit volumes of balls. Definitely up there with 2015 World Cup. Losing to England a decade ago really hurt. These are a great bunch of guys, great support staff and great support around the world, especially back home. Always pumped, wanted to put on a spectacle. There were some nerves around as always in a Final but great to see the guys deliver.”
Australia captain Aaron Finch added, “This is huge, to be the first Australia team to do it. So proud of how the guys went about the campaign”¦ We had to fight and certainly did that, had some great team and individual performances. Can’t believe people wrote Warner off a couple of weeks ago, it was almost like poking the bear. [Adam] Zampa to me was Player of the tournament for me. He controlled the game, got big wickets, super player. Mitch Marsh, what a way to start, put pressure on from the start. Matt Wade came in under an injury cloud and got the job done. He came in in the semi-final alongside Marcus Stoinis and did the business.”
Another good news for the Australian team and the Australian spectators. Australia will host the T20 Cricket World Cup next year. No need to stay up till 5am in front of the TV!
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