Today these teams showed you why they are serious contenders. Warner & Finch started off proceedings in menacing fashion.
But NewZealand were in no mood to take this, that too at their home ground. Boult, Southee & Vettori broke the back of the Aussie batting order & had them reeling at 106/9 before Haddin added some respectability to the score.
McCullum responded in such fashion that at any moment you expected him to throw his sword in Russell Crowe fashion & say, 'Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained?'. The Auckland crowd was expecting an early finish & an easy win over their arch rivals at this stage. McCullum in true Gladiator style refused to wince before the enemy even after that nasty hit on his arm.
At 79/4 too it didn't look all that bad for New Zealand. But Starc came steaming in with the score at 139/5 & what happened over the next three overs will be part of folklore. The cat was set amongst the pigeons, but to the joy of the Auckland crowd Williamson calmly dispatched the ball over the ropes for a memorable win.