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Congratulations Australia ! Well Played New Zealand.

To be brutally honest this game was over when Starc shattered timber in the very first over to send Russell Crowe Brendon McCullum on his way.

The final was a low scoring game but this World Cup in general has been a run-feast - 38 Hundreds - the most in the tournament's history !

Pakistan must've watched this and said 'How on earth did we let that game go !!!'. Spare a thought for the Proteas ! But all said & done the best team has won the tournament.

Well, that is it from us. Hope you enjoyed our coverage of the World Cup. Till we meet again it's goodbye from all of us here at Khaleej Times.

Batsmen shiver at the sight of Mitchell Starc. Ask Wahab and he will tell you. Deserves to win the Player of the Tournament award for his wicket haul.

James Faulkner 9 - 1 - 36 - 3 walks off with the Player of the Match award for the crucial breakthroughs today.

Bowling Analysis — James Faulkner - 9 - 1 - 36 - 3

Fastest Ball - 85.28 mph | Slowest Ball - 68.45 mph

Over 17th 82.4 83.4 82.0 83.9 84.2 84.0 19th 82.9 83.1 78.5 83.7 77.0 82.4 24th 80.5 nan nan 77.3 84.8 84.6 26th 80.5 81.7 84.0 80.1 80.5 79.8 36th 69.3 nan 82.6 nan nan 85.3 38th 83.8 84.1 83.9 84.6 84.4 83.1 40th 83.3 81.1 nan 80.1 82.8 81.7 42nd 81.1 nan 81.5 80.4 68.5 84.1 44th 83.5 82.8 nan 71.8 nan nan 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 1 0 1 0 4 0 1 0 W 0 W 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 1 0 4 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 W 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

Michael Clarke couldn't have asked for more. Coming into the tournament with doubts being raised over his fitness, Clarke had a lot to prove and what a stage to do it. Great innings today - those four consecutive fours were brilliant, pity he couldn't be there to hit the winning runs, but he's a very happy man at the moment.

image/svg+xml 12.3 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 12.4 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 12.5 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 13.4 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 3 runs 13.6 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 14.5 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 14.6 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 15.2 : Tim Southee to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 15.3 : Tim Southee to Michael Clarke , 1 runs 16.3 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 16.4 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 16.5 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 16.6 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 17.3 : Tim Southee to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 17.4 : Tim Southee to Michael Clarke , 4 runs 17.5 : Tim Southee to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 17.6 : Tim Southee to Michael Clarke , 2 runs 18.2 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 18.3 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 18.4 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 4 runs 18.5 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 4 runs 18.6 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 1 runs 19.1 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 1 runs 19.3 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 19.4 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 19.5 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 19.6 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 1 runs 20.1 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 20.2 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 20.3 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 1 runs 20.6 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 21.3 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 1 runs 21.5 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 21.6 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 22.2 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 3 runs 22.4 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 22.5 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 22.6 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 4 runs 23.2 : Corey Anderson to Michael Clarke , 3 runs 24.1 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 1 runs 24.3 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 24.4 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 2 runs 24.5 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 6 runs 24.6 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 1 runs 25.1 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 25.2 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 25.3 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 25.4 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 25.5 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 25.6 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 4 runs 26.2 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 2 runs 26.3 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 1 runs 26.5 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 26.6 : Daniel Vettori to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 27.3 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 27.5 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 28.6 : Tim Southee to Michael Clarke , 2 runs 29.3 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 0 runs 29.4 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 4 runs 29.5 : Trent Boult to Michael Clarke , 1 runs 30.1 : Tim Southee to Michael Clarke , 4 runs 30.2 : Tim Southee to Michael Clarke , 4 runs 30.3 : Tim Southee to Michael Clarke , 4 runs 30.4 : Tim Southee to Michael Clarke , 4 runs 30.5 : Tim Southee to Michael Clarke , 1 runs 31.1 : Matt Henry to Michael Clarke , 0 runs

Over no 33 Watto & Smith make everybody wait. Their teammates are waiting to run to the ground.

33.1 Smith hits the winning runs and Australia are World Champions. Congratulations Australia !

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Henry spoils Clarke's 74 (72) perfect dream. Walks off to a standing ovation.

Smith gets to fifty now. Hes having the time of his life - the future captain.

6 runs needed now

Boom ! Boom ! Boom ! Boom !

4 fours in a row for Clarke

10 needed now

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Its the final of the World Cup.

Its your last ODI game as player & captain.

What do you do? Score a fifty, lift the trophy & soak in the applause of course ! Now how cool is that?

AUS 140 / 2 in 28

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Michael Clarke 47 * (54) comes down the track and punishes Vettori for six over long-off.

And New Zealand made AB de Villiers cry for this?

AUS 134 / 2 in 26

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86 required from 30 overs

Clarke 21 * (31) breaks the shackles to hit two back to back boundaries. He'd love to be there at the end to hit the winning runs - fitting finale for a fantastic player.

AUS 98 / 2 in 20

McCullum has no other choice but to bowl Boult out. This final is turning out to be similar to the one in 1999 Someone bring some life to this contest will ya? AUS 74 / 2 in 16

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 0 2 1 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 W 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Matt Henry almost has Steven Smith 17 * (29). The ball rolls to the stumps but the bails refuse to come off! Smith scratches his head. AUS 69 / 2 in 14.4

The MCG stands up as one to applaud Michael Clarke to the crease - the last time he will represent Australia in yellow & gold. AUS 68 / 2 in 13.5

12.1 short and Warner pulls for four

12.2 Gone ! Elliott holds on to the catch & Warner is on his way to the dressing room. Has Matt Henry done the trick for the Kiwis?

AUS 62 / 2 in 12.2

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They might have lost a wicket but the Aussies are being clinical here and are not letting the Kiwis put a noose around them. Vettori the wounded soldier into the attack now. The Kiwis need to attack else this game will be over in a jiffy.

AUS 45 / 1 in 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 W 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 1 2 0 4 0 0 0 4 4 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 0

Steven Smith is out in the middle & this man has had a fantastic summer. What a moment to be a legend! The Kiwis are giving their everything out there but Vettori doesn't look all that comfortable in the middle - looks like a calf injury and that could be bad news for the Kiwis.

4.2 Warner punishes that wide delivery from Southee sending it for four.

4.3 And another one ...

4.4 Oh no .. just wide of slip & thats another four.

4.5 Wide

4.5 to the keeper

4.6 single to end the over

Bring in those slips Brendon. Where are they? And Tim Southee please bowl straight sir. You are a bit all over the place at the moment.

AUS 33 / 1 in 5

Finch 0 (5) is gone ! Boult takes an easy caught & bowled chance and for the first time today the Kiwis roar. Game on !AUS 2 / 1 in 2

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0.1 nice & straight from Southee, no run

0.2 Warner gets off the mark

0.3 to the keeper

0.4 defended by Finch

0.5 play & a miss

0.6 to the keeper again

AUS 1 / 0 in 1

Please New Zealand, make this interesting ...

To many the says 'New Zealand' but the is saying 'Australia'. What do you reckon? Is a thriller about to unfold or are Clarke's men saying 'rubbish!' & are going to finish this in 30 overs?

Mitchell Starc 8 - 0 - 20 - 2 and Mitchell Johnson 9 - 0 - 30 - 3 were breathing fire as always & lets not forget Faulkner's 9 - 1 - 36 - 3 fantastic spell. Is this it? Does the second half have a surprise? Can Southee & Boult do what the Mitch's have done? Can Vettori walk off with one last miracle at the MCG? We'll soon know.

Bowling Analysis — Mitchell Starc - 8 - 0 - 20 - 2

Fastest Ball - 94.14 mph | Slowest Ball - 85.46 mph

Over 1st 86.7 92.0 92.3 89.6 93.1 nan 3rd 91.0 nan 91.6 92.5 92.8 94.1 5th 91.8 88.9 91.1 91.5 93.0 89.4 7th 92.4 91.7 91.4 90.7 91.8 90.7 91.1 21st 89.6 89.2 88.8 90.1 89.7 88.6 23rd 89.2 86.0 90.7 89.0 89.5 89.5 37th 86.9 89.9 nan 90.6 91.7 88.5 39th 90.9 nan 85.5 nan 87.6 90.0 0 1 0 0 W 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 1 W 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0

A terrific throw from Maxwell and Southee 11 (11) is gone. The Kiwis will be utterly disappointed with that performance.

NZ 183 in 45

37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 1 W 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 W 4 0 0 0 W 0 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 W 0 W

Southee 11 * (11) hits a biggie and has been swinging and missing ever since. Johnson sends Matt Henry 0 (7) on his way. You gotta feel for 8, 9, 10 & Jack facing Johnson & Starc at the death. That's a Human Rights violation ! NZ 182 / 9 in 44.3

Vettori 9 (21) hears the sound of timber and has to walk back. Johnson does the damage. New Zealand need somewhere between 230 - 250 to put up a fight or else ... Ah! forget it! Doesn't look like it now! Elliott 83 (82) tickles it to the keeper & Faulkner has three now. NZ 171 / 8 in 42.1

Ronchi 0 (4) doesn't last long either. Starc does the damage again - what a World Cup this guy is having. Clarke takes a smart catch in the slips.

NZ 157 / 6 in 37.1

27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 0 1 4 0 0 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 4 0 W 0 W 0 0 0 1 W 0 0 0 0

Taylor & Elliott have been doing the recovery job well so far... Uh oh ... as we write that Haddin dives to his right and has he grassed it? . A couple of replays.. and Taylor 40 (72) walks back to the pavilion. Great catch by Haddin. Faulkner gets the breakthrough for Australia. And hold on.. here comes another.. Corey Anderson 0 (1) is bowled first ball ! Disaster for New Zealand ! Australia on top at the MCG. NZ 150 / 5 in 36

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Elliott 50 * (52) gets to his fifty. New Zealand will need him to stay on. Taylor 30 (51) is at the other end. He hasn't had a dazzling World Cup & today might just be his day. NZ 118 / 3 in 29

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Finally! They've been used to getting this in the first ten overs. The Kiwi hundred comes in the 27th over on the big day. Watson into the attack now.

NZ 107 / 3 in 27

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 0 W 4 0 1 0 1 W 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 2 0 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 1 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 1 2

Maxwell thinks he's got his man. Elliott's head on the scaffold ... and he survives! That would miss the stumps.

New Zealand 83 / 3 in 23

The Kiwis Today ...

Mitchell Johnson takes a caught and bowled chance and thats the end of Williamson's 12 (33) stay at the wicket. NZ 41 / 3 in 13

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The Kiwis so far have been used to their captain playing blinders but on the big day they've been left to fetch for themselves - uncharted territory for the poor fellas. Guptill 14 * (31) & Williamson 12 * (31) are feeling the heat, but mind you these are early days. Who knows what this day has in store for us?

Oh wait a minute ! The bowling change does the trick. Bowled him! Maxwell gets rid of the tournament's highest run getter Martin Guptill 15 (34). The Kiwis are in trouble. Nobody saw that wicket coming. These two had managed to see off the new ball bowlers and Guptill has fallen to Maxwell ???? NZ 37 / 2 in 12

Bowling Analysis —Australia | Overs 1 to 12

Fastest Ball - 94.14 mph — Slowest Ball - 53.05 mph

Over 1st 86.7 92.0 92.3 89.6 93.1 nan 2nd nan nan nan 86.9 87.1 nan 3rd 91.0 nan 91.6 92.5 92.8 94.1 4th 86.9 88.3 88.0 86.8 nan nan 5th 91.8 88.9 91.1 91.5 93.0 89.4 6th 87.4 84.0 86.2 87.4 nan nan 7th 92.4 91.7 91.4 90.7 91.8 90.7 91.1 8th nan nan 88.5 nan 87.4 nan 9th 92.5 90.9 89.3 92.3 90.6 92.0 91.4 10th 87.6 87.9 nan 87.3 nan 86.0 11th 91.4 90.8 90.7 90.4 91.4 89.1 12th 54.9 55.5 54.6 54.8 55.8 53.1 0 1 0 0 W 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 W 4 0 1 0

Wasn't this the script that was supposed to be followed?'

Then, calling out to the now silenced crowd, Maximus screams at them, 'ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED??!! ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED??!! Is this not why you are here??'' The crowd silenced, Maximus throws the other sword to the ground, spitting in disgust and begins to leave the arena. The crowd cheers loudly. Maximus slows his pace, looking at them in amazement and curiosity. 'Brendon, Brendon, Brendon, Brendon.'

Mitchell Starc - love spoiling a party eh mate?

NZ 23 / 1 in 7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 0 0 W 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Was that the heart wrenching moment of the day or is this the first of many to come?

Guptill & Williamson at the crease with a huge responsibility on their hands. NZ 11 / 1 in 3

Starc runs into start proceedings at the MCG. Goosebumps everywhere.

0.2 first runs on the board & Brendon is on strike.

0.3 swing & a miss - almost got him

0.4 swing & a miss - almost got him

0.5 Got 'im ! Bowled! Gone ! No Gladiatoral feats today at the MCG. Starc gets rid of THE DANGER MAN - Brendon McCullum - What a start for the Aussies!

COMMODUS: My history's a little hazy Cassius, but aren't the Barbarians supposed to lose the battle of Carthage!!

CASSIUS: Yes, Sire. Forgive me, Sire.

COMMODUS: No, I rather enjoy surprises. Who is that?

CASSIUS: They call him Brendon McCullum Sire.

Hello & Welcome to our coverage of Super Sunday. It's a beautiful day at the MCG & the setting is perfect for a grand finale. Australia take on New Zealand in the final of what has been an exciting World Cup & the two best teams of the tournament will battle it out today for glory. Australia have seen it all before & are used to big days like this one but their cousins the Kiwis are on territory they have never been before - the final of a World Cup.

The group game between these two teams was a cracker of a contest where the Kiwis prevailed over the Aussies & what a day for Australia to give it back. If Brendon McCullum can get going we are in for a rollicking day of cricket.

Toss news now - New Zealand have won the toss and will bat first. Let the battle begin! Stay tuned as we bring you the updates.

Visuals by Gramener.com

Data Source: Cricinfo