Williamson’s classy 85, which sets up New Zealand’s challenging total, is not enough as Hazlewood strikes in a brilliant spell
Despite the coin turning in Aaron Finch’s favour, Kane Williamson (85, 48b, 10×4, 3×6) almost beat the ‘win the toss, chase the target and win the game’ trend in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. , However, the valor of the Black Caps captain was not enough to lead his team to victory.
Thanks to a 92-run partnership between David Warner (53, 38b, 4×4, 3×6) and Mitchell Marsh (77 no, 50b, 6×4, 4×6), Australia managed to end the prolonged drought of the T20 world. Made meat for the target of 171. Cup victory. It was the second time this week that Australia chased down the title of 170-plus at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
While Finch and Co left it up to the lower order to return in the semi-final vs Pakistan on Thursday, Sunday night Warner and Marsh saw Ring of Fire in exactly the same words as Australia began the chase. .
Even as Finch continued his forgotten run in the UAE, topping Trent Boult in the third over, Marsh scored 14 off the first three balls – 6, 4, 4 in the next over off Adam Milne. After that, Australia was never under the pressure of the scoreboard, Warner continued his amazing performance in the tournament.
Marsh and Warner were at their best before the dew made the life of the spinners miserable – with Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi consistently offered freebies as they were pushing the opposition so far in the tournament.
While Warner’s short-arm jab off Tim Southee in the fifth over was breathtaking, Marsh’s six off Sodhi would have delighted the old-timers as well.
Glenn Maxwell joins the party after Boult defends Warner. It was Tim Southee’s Maxwell reverse-lap in the final over that completed the formalities with fireworks lighting up Dubai skies, overshadowing Australia’s over-the-top celebrations.
Had it not been for a brilliant spell from Josh Hazlewood – and Williamson’s chance in the 11th over – Australia would not have been chasing a tight target.
Hazlewood’s 14 dot balls in three overs in the powerplay helped Martin Guptill and Williamson be reduced to only 32/1 in the powerplay and 57/1 at the halfway mark.
In the next over, Williamson caught Mitchell Starc off his pads for 21 runs and Hazlewood made the mistake of a regulation catch at deep fine leg. In the next 25 balls, Williamson came at a heavy price for the Aussies with a 59-run knock before Hazlewood was caught at deep midwicket by Glenn Maxwell.
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