Melbourne: Facing a well-oiled Australian unit in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup on Sunday, New Zealand’s hopes of winning their maiden title faced a huge blow after skipper Brendon McCullum was dismissed for a duck and credit goes to Mitchell Starc’s swinging fullish delivery that crashed the off-stump.
Winning the toss, McCullum elected to bat first and even though it was a good toss to win, Michael Clarke and his men didn’t lose hope but on the contrary proved to the world and the full house MCG why they are the four-time World Champions.
It was top stuff from Australia who dismissed the Kiwis for 183 and have now taken 79 of the 80 wickets available to them. But Brendon McCullum and New Zealand should not lose hope and back on history to prove that they can still emerge victorious.
India had made 183 in the 1983 WC final Today New Zealand 183 Therefore Australia will score? #BingPredicts #DimagSay #CWC15
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 29, 20151983 World Cup is where we’re heading to and India, facing the West Indies in the final at Lord’s were bowled out for the same score but still managed to grab their first cricket World Cup. It was the very first time India had reached a final at the main event and as similar as it may be, New Zealand also see themselves to be in the same situation. Kris Srikanth (38) and Sandeep Patil (27) top scored for the Indians while for the West Indies, Sir Andy Roberts was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets.
At the end of the Indian batting innings, the Caribbean side were pitted hot favourites to clinch the trophy but Madan Lal and Mohinder Amarnath begged to differ, and let the red leather ball do the talking. Both the Indian legends ripped through the West Indies’ batting line-up and took three wickets each, while Balwinder Sandhu’s two wickets and the duo of Kapil Dev and Roger Binny contribution of a wicket to their name restricted the Windies to just 140.
Remember the 1983 Final? India 183. West Indies clear favourites. India's ended Lords of Lord's! #CWC1983 #CWC15 Game On!
— Alan Wilkins (@alanwilkins22) March 29, 2015Sir Vivian Richards, who top scored with 33 received credible support from the rest of the side.
Cricket is an uncertain game and it’s never over until the last ball. New Zealand will have to look at picking early wickets and Brendon McCullum will have to adopt his aggressive fielding strategy, question lies, who from the Kiwi side can do a Mohinder Amarnath and a Madan Lal? Will it be Tim Southee and Trent Boult? Wait and watch as a great contest awaits at the MCG.
Can #NZ defend 183? These fans will be cheering the @BLACKCAPS all the way! #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/RWyXtml8nY
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) March 29, 2015
