ODI World cup great matches : Australia v New Zealand group match 2015

 

With the latest edition of ODI world cup approaching , we go down memory lane and reflect on some of the epic ODI world cup matches played in its history . Here we look back on the fiery encounter between co hosts New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park Auckland which is supposed to be a belter of a pitch .

Australia batted first in that match . After the early loss of Finch (14) , Warner (34)  and Watson (23) batted pretty well to take the team to 80/1 before things started happening.  

Southee who earlier bowled Finch , dismissed Warner lbw and Vettori got rid of Watson to rattle Aussies at 80/3 . Vettori got rid of Smith (4) too and then Trent Boult got into the act rattling the stumps of Maxwell (1) and Marsh (0) and had Clarke (12) caught at cover along with Johnson and had Starc's middle stump uprooted as New Zealand slumped from 80/1 to 106/9 in a sensational collapse of 26 runs for 8 wickets with Boult taking 5 .

Brad Haddin brought out his combative spirit to score a fighting 43 in a last wicket stand with Cummins (7*) as Australia dragged their total to 151 allout . Boult had stunning figures of 5/27 in 10 overs. 

With a small target to chase down, New Zealand  skipper Brendon McCullum came out all guns blazing . He cut , pulled , drove and flicked on his way to an explosive 24 ball 50 as New Zealand  blazed away to 40 in 3.5 overs when Guptill (11) got out to Starc . Williamson and McCullum took the score to 78/1 before McCullum finally departed , dismissed by Cummins . That signalled Mitchell Starc's return  with a sharp spell of fast bowling to rip apart the Kiwi middle order . Starc had Taylor (1) played on and then bowled Elliot (0)  with a devastating inswinger at pace .  

From 79/4  , Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson (26) had a productive partnership which almost took New Zealand to safety at 131/4 when Anderson got out to Maxwell.  Starc and Australia was waiting for this breakthrough.  Starc came back for another spell and bowled  devastatingly quick with late swing to rip through the lower order. While Cummins dismissed Vettori, Starc  had Ronchi caught off a fast short ball and then had  Milne and Southee bowled with fast in swinging  yorkers  as Williamson exposed his tailenders with untimely singles during the overs .

Finally Williamson got strike in a Cummins over with Boult , the last man in at other end , Williamson (45*)  wacked Cummins for a boundary to take New Zealand  to a sensational  one wicket win .

This match was a tale of two left arm quick bowlers . Mitchell Starc nearly had won the game defending an inadequate score  with his devastating fast bowling taking 6/28 but it was player of the match Trent Boult whose 5/27 had won New Zealand the match by 1 wicket in a thrilling finish .