Today: 20 September, 2021
Match Date: March 29, 2015
Michel Clarke hit 74 in his last one-day international to lead Australia to their fifth World Cup title with a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in a disappointing final on 29 March, 2015.
A record crowd of 93,013 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground saw power-packed Australia bowling out the Black Caps for 183 and then gallop to victory in the 34th over. Clarke, who announced his retirement from the one-day format on the eve of the final, added 112 runs for the third wicket with his likely successor Steve Smith who returned unbeaten on 56. The emphatic win set up by the left-arm fast bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, James Faulkner and Mitchell Johnson who shared eight wickets after the Kiwis elected to bat on a good pitch.
New Zealand messed up their maiden appearance in the title clash of cricket's showpiece event, falling like nine pins against the hostile Australian bowling. Inspirational captain Brendon McCullum fell off the fifth ball of the innings for a duck and two other frontline batsmen, Corey Anderson and Luke Ronchi, also failed score. South Africa-born Grant Elliott top-scored with 83, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 111 with Ross Taylor (40) after New Zealand had been reduced to 39 for three in the 13th over.
The massive crowd, which broke the MCG record of 91,112 on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against England in 2013, saw New Zealand loss their seven wickets for 33 runs. There was a 'Go Gold' march for Australian supporters to the MCG before the game. New Zealand got defeated after going into the final as the only unbeaten team in the 14-nation tournament, their eight wins including a one-wicket success over Australia's in a law scoring stage thriller.
Australia's previous titles come1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007 with coach Darren Lehmann, a two-time World Cup winner as a player, celebrating another success of the field.
Thank you very much for reading my article. If you know more about this match please go to this site link.