Australia wins first T20 World Cup with victory over New Zealand
The Australian men's national cricket team defeated New Zealand by eight wickets in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday to take home their first-ever T20 World Cup title.
Australia had set their sights on the 173 target set by New Zealand in the trans-tasman clash. With Kane Williamson's 85 notched up, Australia looked to be cruising towards victory as David Warner, and Mitchel Marsh looked comfortable at the crease.
Even though Warner's wicket gave New Zealand some renewed hope, Marsh's battering power was enough to push Australia to achieve its target. Nevertheless, it was a tense moment for cricket fans during the exciting encounter. Cricket betting fans could use Vwin betting odds to place bets on the winner and upcoming matches on the leading sports betting site in Vietnam and the whole of Asia.
So, How Did Australia Make History?
New Zealand looked rattled in the intense encounter and exhibited some excellent battling. However, Australia would have none of that as they managed to claim their first title in Cricket's short format comfortably.
Marsh and Glen Maxwell were joined with their teammates on the field to celebrate the historic win. Additionally, Marcus Stoinis, Australia's all-rounder, praised the team for their strong mentality and winning spirit that got them over the line. He also added that the most important thing for the Australian team was that they truly esteemed each other.
It was a combination of excellent bowling and a tough pitch that enabled Australia to restrict New Zealand's runs. Moreover, New Zealand did not do themselves any favours when they lost the wicket of opening batsmen, Daryl Mitchell, for just eleven.
New Zealand's Turning Point?
New Zealand's turning point came when fast bowler Josh Hazlewood dropped captain Williamson on the boundary. At this point, he had already managed 21 runs from 21 balls. After that, he burst into action, managing a 32-ball 50. He also hit Mitchell Starc for 22 runs off a single over.
Nevertheless, Hazel claimed the wickets from Williamson and Glenn Philips, which turned out to be a massive over for Australia. Tim Seifert and Jimmy Neesham led New Zealand to a decent 172 off their 20 overs in the final few overs. This meant that Australia had to reach 173 to win their first T20 World Cup.
Australia's response was a nervy opener that saw Finch survive an early leg-before-wicket appeal during the first over. Finch also got out on the first ball during the semis. However, his survival did not last long as Trent Boult grabbed the wicket after Mitchell caught his short ball in the deep.
Warner and Marsh – The Dream Partnership!
Warner and Marsh partnered to spearhead Australia's rebuild, helping them reach 1-82 at the halfway stage, which meant they needed 91 to win. Warner managed a resounding 51 off 34 balls with an emphatic six as Australia progressed towards victory.
The result was quickly slipping away from the Black Caps. Bout was back to the bowling attack, and he claimed a wicket to give New Zealand some hope. However, Marsh registered his own half-century with his own big six in the subsequent over. He hit the mark after an impressive 31 balls. These brilliant performances were helped by inefficient bowling by New Zealand to propel Australia to the momentous victory.
Not Forgetting Adam Zampa
Adam Zampa, Australia's leg-spinner, was also instrumental in the historic win. The fact that he was the team's top wicket-taker in the tournament says a lot. After the final, Zampa, who managed 26 runs, conceded off his four overs and a wicket claiming he maximised the conditions in the UAE.
After a slow start to the tournament, Australia got better as it progressed to be crowned T20 World Cup champions for the first time. The final was played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and while it was an enthusiastic crowd, there were many empty seats noticeable in the 25,000-capacity stadium.
The newly-crowned world champions will get the opportunity to defend their title on home soil when the 2022 T20 World Cup is held in Australia. The final will be held at the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground and it promises to be an amazing event after it was initially postponed from 2020.
