Australia has registered a convincing win over New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 final. With this, they won their maiden T20 title as well. Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first.
Put in to bat first, New Zealand got a big blow as Daryl Mitchell could only manage 11 runs and got out within the powerplay. Kane Williamson came to the crease, steadied the ship and played a captain’s knock. He smashed a 48-ball 85 with 10 fours and 3 sixes and helped his side put up a decent competitive total of 172 in their allotted 20 overs.
These blokes had standout tournaments šš#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/BfJyWVlfBd
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 14, 2021
While chasing, Australia too lost the captain Aaron Finch very early. But David Warner and Mitchell Marsh stitched a 92-run partnership for the second wicket and took the team home with 7 balls and 8 wickets in hand.
After the win, Aaron Finch said: “This is huge. To be the first Australian team to be able to do it. So proud. We knew our backs were against the wall. We had some great individual performances, some great team performances. Can’t believe people wrote him off saying he was done (Warner). That’s when he plays his best cricket. Was almost like poking the bear. The player of the tournament for me (Zampa). Mitch Marsh – what a way to start his innings today. Wade coming into this game with an injury cloud but got a job done. Stoinis did the business.
Kane Williamson said: “We were trying to get a platform and the surface was holding a fraction. But typical to here in Dubai. It was nice to build some partnerships and get what we thought was a competitive total. Only to be chased superbly by Australia. They’re a fantastic side. We certainly made every effort. Guys came out and committed to their plans. They didn’t give an inch really. Really proud of our team’s efforts throughout. Came here in the final and gave it our best shot but it wasn’t enough. Conditions varied a lot from venue to venue but we adjusted well. Nice to get to the big dance. Credit to Australia. Today they really turned it on. High hopes coming into this game. Never nice. Winning and losing are two possible outcomes.”
289 runs at an average of 48.16, including a crucial half-century in the final! @davidwarner31 is the 2021 #T20WorldCup Player of the Tournament š pic.twitter.com/bSSAsWwgzT
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 14, 2021
David Warner, Player of the Tournament, said: “Always felt really well. Didn’t get much time in the middle in the two practice matches obviously. But for me it was about going back to basics. Going to hard, synthetic wickets and try to hit some balls. Definitely up there with 2015. Being part of the World Cup final against England a decade ago definitely hurt. These guys are a great bunch of guys. Great support staff, great team, great support back home. Just wanted to put on a great spectacle for everyone. Bit of nerves around with a good score on the board. Just great to see the guys deliver.”
Mitchell Marsh, Player of the Match, said: “Lot of people say this but I really don’t have words right now. An amazing six weeks with this group. Coaching staff came up to me in the West Indies and said you’ll bat three for this tournament/series. Absolutely jumped at the idea of that. Done a little bit of that for the Scorchers. I must thank everyone in the supportstaff for backing me. Not a whole lot of thinking that goes into that (first ball for six). Just wanted to go out there and have a presence. Big Marcus Stoinis always talks about having a presence.
Justin Langer said: “Everyone that wins a World Cup says it’s hard to process, it’s hard to put in words, but this is such a wonderful group of people. Every coach and every captain says the same but we have got some amazing cricketers here. We haven’t had a chance to play together for different reasons for the last 12 months. When we all got back together, it was almost like a reunion. There are so many close relationships there, a very special moment for everyone. We knew when we came together how much talent we had. There’s enormous talent in the team. When we were in the West Indies and Bangladesh, there were a few missing pieces, Mitch Marsh took one of those pieces and he’s been brilliant. We also embraced fun. In these situations, when everyone’s talking about bubble, these guys have had so much fun on and off the ground. In this form of game, you actually it’s important to have fun and enjoy, the guys have done that. I think that was a really important part of the success here. Zamps (Adam Zampa) puts a smile on my face everytime because he’s a little bit different and he’s a little bit hippie but he’s so competitive, he’s been so good in this form of the game. We see leg-spinners having an impact around the world and he’s doing that for Australia. Josh Hazlewood – he didn’t play the last one-day WC because he had some back issues. He’s been sublime here, it’s been a great team effort.
Steven Smith said: “It means a lot. We have worked hard for a long time and it is honour to be here with the boys and take the trophy home. Warner’s last two weeks have been amazing. A lot of people were writing him off. He came in with exceptional intent and took the game away at the start.”
Mitchell Starc said: “It’s not been an ideal lead up. But this is the closest the guys were and it has shown in the way we played our cricket. Different guys in different games and the closeness with the guys has taken us through. Zampa has been the best bowler by far in white ball over the last two years. We know how to bowl around him. The bowling group just know our roles a lot clearer.”
Keep underestimating Adam Zampa all you want. He thrives off it #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/EeEuJBzOyW
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 14, 2021
Adam Zampa said: “I just tried to bowl to my strength, to the best of my abilities. I knew the wickets are going to be slow. I bowled in some good times, we won tosses and bowled with a dry ball. Tried to get wickets and tried to defend when needed. Lot of credit to them (support staff). Preparation from their side has been great. This is their win as well.”
Glenn Maxwell said: “He (Zampa) has been a superstar in this format as well as one-day cricket for a long period of time. I have had the pleasure of having him at the Stars and watched him grow into the player he is. To watch him bring all his talent straight into international cricket, he’s fitted in so well. In the last 3 years, as a leg-spinner, I don’t think there haven’t been many better in the world. (On his personal form heading into the tournament) It was perfect, I was able to give myself a few days off before the tournament to freshen up. I was hitting the ball really well, I wasn’t required a whole lot. It was nice to be out there and hit the winning runs.”
Josh Hazlewood said: “There’s always pressure, the batters come at you from ball 1 and we kept the powerplay to 40ish runs, so a good effort there. I got away towards the end. Exceptional chase from our guys. Kane is a superb players, has been for a long time, it was a classical Kane innings. He scored all around, and hurt us when we bowled poorly.”
Pat Cummins said: “Pretty pumped. Once we go back home it will sink in. A lot of support back home, they’ve gotten up at 1am. It’s a good thing to play some IPL here. Even Hazlewood was able to adapt quickly because of that.”
Marcus Stoinis said: “This group of boys, we actually love each other. It’s beautiful – this team. I can’t wait to play with this team. I am so proud of them. You won’t find bigger supporters of Mitch Marsh than here and probably his family. We are so happy for him.”
Matthew Wade said: “It’s huge. First T20 World Cup coming in, felt like a lot of people wrote us off early, but internally we spoke about how we could be the first team to achieve this for Australia. Something really, really special. More than my innings (against Pakistan), the partnership (with Stoinis) will stand out. We didn’t realize we scored as many runs as we did. Today we were confident that if the boys could get off to a good start we can do this. Thankfully Mitch (Marsh), Davey and Maxi did it.”
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