THE MATCH

 

Image Credit- NDTV. 

Venue- Eden Park, Auckland [28th February 2015].

Hosts New Zealand were facing Co-Hosts Australia in the Group Stage of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Both the teams were in red hot form, so everyone was expecting a close encounter between the two neighbors. On a batting friendly wicket, Australian Captain Michael Clarke won the toss and decided to bat first. 

The Aussies got the best possible start as they scored 30 runs in just 13 deliveries. Eventually Tim Southee bowled Finch out for 14 and put some brakes on the Australian attack. However, it is pertinent to note that even though the run-rate did slow down, but the 50 runs stand between Warner and Watson kept the Australia alive in the game. Furthermore, the Aussie scorecard in the 13th over read 80/1 and it appeared that they would post a mammoth total. But this is when the lightning struck. Trent Boult bowled one of his fiercest spells of his career and in no time the Australian scorecard was reduced to 106/9. The match turned upside down. Trent Boult in his 10 overs spell dismissed 5 Australian Batsmen and made a mess of the Aussie Batting Line-Up. It was only because of Brad Haddin's quickfire 43 that the Aussies managed to cross 150 runs mark. 

The Kiwis needed 152 runs to win the game and it looked an easy task for the Hosts. Furthermore, Captain Brendon McCullum gave best possible start to his side as he scored an impressive 50 of 24 deliveries. It looked that the game would end in no time. But this is when another lightning struck. Mitchell Starc too bowled one of his best spells [6-28] as the Kiwis were reduced to 146/9 in 22.4 overs. It looked that Starc will win the game for his country. However, Boult survived the hat trick ball and the last ball of the 23rd over which kept his team in the game. And guess what, on the very next ball Kane Williamson hit a straight six of Pat Cummins and won the game for his country. 

[Postscript- Even though Kiwis won the group stage match, but Australia had their revenge in the World Cup Final wherein they thrashed Kiwis in Melbourne and won their 5th World Cup Trophy.]

To watch the Highlights of that Classic Encounter, Click Here.