The match between New Zealand and Australia lived up to the expectation and turned out to be by far the best game of the World Cup 2015. Kiwis, however, managed to win the contest, but just by one wicket.
No one expected the game to go as close as it went, after the Black Caps bundled the Aussies to a mere 151, courtesy Trent Boult. Then Brendon McCullum scored a swift fifty to put New Zealand within touching distance of a win.
Australia, meanwhile, fought their hearts out and managed to make a match out of it, riding on Mitchell Starc, who finished with a six-for. Kane Williamson, meanwhile, stood firm and finished the game with a six over long-on.
“Both teams showed what quality their bowlers are. Starc for them and Boult for us, both were outstanding and the support was outstanding as well. We saw some great pace and swing bowling,” McCullum said. “We want to be an aggressive team with bat, ball and on the field as well.”
“Everyone wants to see 300 scores, but 150 is great as well, with only one wicket down,” he added. “Boult and Southee are outstanding in both Tests and ODIs, they have done well for a very long time, without disrespect to anyone.”
Earlier, Australia were off to a fantastic start and were 80/1 at one time, but a cleaver bowling change from McCullum changed the complexion of the game. Boult ripped through the Aussie batting line up and finished with a fifer.
“We tied them down very nicely and in my mind was to come back in the second spell and take wickets, didn’t think I would get five,” Boult said. “We pulled it back nicely and everyone chipped in to make it a chaseable total.”
