If cricket is a game of uncertainties then Saturday’s clash between Australia and New Zealand of WC 2015 should be a case study! The highly-anticipated match swung like a pendulum until the end but finally rested with New Zealand when Kane Williamson hit the winning six, defeating Australia by 1 wicket.
Winning the toss and batting first, Australia got on to a good start at Eden Park but once David Warner perished, Australia quickly slumped from 80/2 to 151/10. Trent Boult ripped apart the famed Australian batting line-up with his swing and pace and ended up with a 5-wicket haul and the Man-of-the-Match award.
In reply, captain Brendon McCullum’s quick fire half-century and Corey Anderson and Kane Williamson’s solid 52-run partnership saw Kiwis reach 151/5 comfortably. However, Mitchell Starc was breathing fire and almost spoilt the party for the Kiwis with his amazing spell of 6/28.
Starc ripped through the Kiwi middle and lower order in his second spell with his stinging yorkers which left New Zealand tottering from 136/5 to 146/9 . The quick burst of wickets at the bottom actually gave Australia a glimmer of hope as the match went down to the last wicket.
However, Williamson held his nerve and finally finished the business for New Zealand by hitting the winning six to steal a win.