NZ vs AUS HIGHLIGHTS, T20 World Cup Final: Australia beats New Zealand to win first men's T20 WC title; Warner, Marsh slam fifties

AUS vs NZ Final HIGHLIGHTS, T20 World Cup: Get the score updates, commentary of the T20 World Cup 2021 final between Australia and New Zealand from Dubai.

Published : Nov 14, 2021 15:00 IST

Mitch Marsh's unbeaten 77 led Australia to its first men's T20 World Cup triumph.

Welcome to the coverage of the T20 World Cup 2021 FINAL between Australia and New Zealand. This was Lalith Kalidas , bringing you all the action as it unfolded at the Dubai International Stadium.

The celebrations are on for the Aussies!

And the trophy is handed over to the Aussies! A record extending eighth ICC trophy is theirs and the Ring of Fire beams and explodes in a vibrant coalesce of colours and joy.

  • Australian players receive their winners medals: Aaron Finch - 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.
  • New Zealand players receive their medals: Kane Williamson - 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.
  • Player of the Tournament: David Warner - "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."
  • Player of the Final: Mitchell Marsh - "I don't really have words, what an amazing six weeks with this group. Love them to death. World champs. [No3] The coaching staff came up to me in the West Indies and said you're going to bat three for this tournament, and I jumped at it. Have the staff to thank for backing me and getting me up the top there. [Six first ball] Not a whole lot of thinking that goes into it. Wanted to have a presence, be in the contest, go out there and play my game. It's unbelievable."

The Awards Ceremony begins..

Justin Langer:  Everyone that wins a World Cup says it's hard to process, it's hard to put in words, but this is such a 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 WI and Bangladesh, there was 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 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:  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:  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.

Maxwell: It was perfect, I was fresh and hitting the ball really well. It was nice to be out there to hit the winning runs. Zampa has been a superstar in this format and ODIs and I had the pleasure of watching him grow into the player he is. To watch him bring all his talent into the international stage has been a pleasure. He's also fielding well, and in the last three years as a legspinner, there haven;t been many better in the world.

Josh Hazlewood:  There's always pressure, the batters come at you and we kept the powerplay to 40. They got away towards the end. Kane is a superb players, has been for a long time, it was a classical Kane innings.

A hard pill to swallow for the Kiwis. After what looked like a sizzling second-half that powered it to a top finish, Australia treated Williamson's bowlers with equal disdain. Warner's scintillating return to form hit its peak before Marsh topped his breakout T20I season with the perfect finish. The Aussies came in to the tournament of five consecutive series defeat and here they are...back where they belong!

AUS 173/5 in 18.5 overs: Marsh whacks Southee down the ground and a diving Neesham cannot stop it. FOUR! Southee bumps it short again and Marsh gets a single. A six away and Maxi's on strike. Maxwell drives a single to deep mid-wicket. Four away and Maxwell reverse sweeps it FOUUUURRRR! Australia wins by 8 wickets -their first men's T20 World Cup triumph!

AUS 162/2 in 18 overs: Milne follows Maxi with a couple of slow bouncers and the dots crop up suddenly. Just three runs off it and Australia needs 11 runs in 12 balls.

AUS needs 14 off 18 balls.  Milne is up.

AUS 159/2 in 17 overs: Boult drops Marsh off his own bowling. A slower one to finish from Boult and Marsh chips it straight back at him. Boult holds his left hand out but fails to hold on. Another 10-run over and Australia nears the finish-line.

AUS 149/2 in 16 overs: Southee strays to the pads and Maxwell flicks it down leg FOUR. Poor start from Southee. Short to the ribs and Maxwell pulls it over mid-wicket for SIX. Easy! AUS 24 needs off 24 to win.

Southee is back

AUS needs 37 off 30 balls.

AUS 136/2 in 15 overs: This is slipping away pretty quickly from New Zealand's grasp.  Milne fends short and Maxwell swats it through mid-wicket for FOUR. Another short one and Maxwell top-edges it for FOUR over the keeper.

Milne returns

 

AUS 125/2 in 14 overs:  FIFTY FOR MARSH! He brings it up with a powerful slog down the ground. Sodhi crumbles under pressure as he tosses it short and wide and Marsh makes merry with another FOUR through mid-wicket. Three wides in the over too and 16 runs come off the over!

AUS 109/2 in 13 overs: Boult to Warner. OUT! Bowled him! Boult is fired up and Williamson's change pays instant dividend. Boult pushes it full and the ball keeps low as Warner attempts to flat bat it across the field. He misses it altogether as the ball zips through to smash the stumps. Maxwell at 4.  A couple of probing deliveries greet Maxwell at the crease. Boult bumps one in across the batter while finishing up with an in-decker.  David Warner b Boult 53 (38b 4x4 3x6)

Boult is back

AUS 106/1 in 12 overs: Short from Santner and Marsh pulls it to the deep. It falls agonisingly short of Phillips who grabs it on the bounce. This is shoddy from Santner as he floats one in on length. Marsh easily swivels across and bashes it to the deep for FOUR.

AUS 97/1 in 11 overs: FIFTY for Warner! He gets there in smashing fashion as he pulls Neesham for a massive SIX over mid-wicket, shortly after Marsh aces a swivel pull over deep fine leg for SIX. Australia making a meal of the chase at the moment.

Jimmy Neesham into the attack

AUS 82/1 in 10 overs: Santner is at ease with Marsh on strike. He keeps it tight on length and concedes five to finish. Right, 91 required off the last 10. With nine wickets in hand, you'd back the Aussies to finish, you never know!

AUS 77/1 in 9 overs: Vintage Warner! Sodhi slides one in and Warner drags it from across to the long-on fence for FOUR. Short again and Warner sweeps it for another FOUR. Sodhi bravely tosses the ball full and Warner smokes him down the ground for SIX! What a turnaround for Davey at the World Cup!

AUS 60/1 in 8 overs: Warner aims to charge down the wicket but Santner fends it wide. He gets some bat on it and gets a single. Marsh slogs and does it with utmost ease to send the ball over square leg for SIX. We're seeing two extremes out in the middle. Warner content to play the anchor while Marsh unleashes the occasional risk-filled stroke.

Santner replaces Milne

AUS 50/1 in 7 overs: Sodhi fends short while attacking the stumps. Warner and Marsh watchfully pierce him around the gaps for ones and twos and it's 50 up for Australia.

Sodhi into the attack

AUS 43/1 in 6 overs: Milne picks a leaf out of Cummins trickery tonight. He manages his pace with a couple of cutters that keep Warner and Marsh on their feet. Just three runs off the over and New Zealand hold things steady at the end of the PowerPlay.

AUS 40/1 in 5 overs: Southee keeps it tight on the wicket as Marsh and Warner resort to singles. Southee rolls in the slower-one on length and Warner bashes him over mid-wicket for SIX!  Australia is doing well to keep up a fine run-rate.

Southee switches ends

AUS 30/1 in 4 overs: Marsh waltzes Milne first ball with a fiery SIX over square leg. Mind you, this is a quick delivery that is angled into the pads but Marsh flicks it with absolute disdain and perfection over the fence. Short again from Milne and Marsh handsomely crunches to deep mid-wicket for FOUR.

Milne replaces Southee

AUS 15/1 in 3 overs: Boult to Finch. OUT! IN THE AIR and Mitchell with a fine hold in the deep!  Right when Finchy was finding his groove with a fine slog down the ground for four, Boult follows up with a quick bumper. Finch gets a shaky hook after charging down on the ball and it lobs up high towards mid-wicket. Mitchell runs in from the deep and completes an excellent catch to send the Aussie skipper on his way.  Aaron Finch c Mitchell b Boult 5 (7b 1x4)

AUS 11/0 in 2 overs: And Warner's away! Southee pushes one outside off and Warner smashes him over extra cover for FOUR! Short and wide to follow and Warner slaps the ball over point for another FOUR. Finch continues to struggle with his timing as Southee zips the ball in sharply.

Southee from the other end

AUS 1/0 in 1 over: Boult begins with a short ball outside off and Warner tamely slaps it to cover. A quick nip-backer prompts Warner to tentatively to block off the backfoot. Swing for Boult on the third ball and Warner gets a streaky edge past second-slip. Finch marks his guard well outside the crease and Boult fires in a quick bumper that moves away. Boult tails the ball in and hits Finch flush in the pads and there's a loud appeal from the bowler. Seems to be sliding down leg and Williamson resists a temptation to go for the review.

Boult to Warner.

Back for the chase! Trent Boult up and ready with the new ball. Aaron Finch and David Warner are at the middle.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Williamson certainly didn't seem to be right in the perfect frame to execute it tonight. An early reprieve in the form of a dropped catch perhaps helped but Kane absolutely flicked the switch and tricked the pitch out of equation as he equated his gracious best to effective shotmaking and runs.  Australia wouldn't go in breathing lightly after this innings. They've given away 115 in the last 10 overs and New Zealand have propelled itself to the highest total ever in a final on a two-paced wicket in Dubai. Game on, folks. Not a bummer by any stretch from here.

Worst figures in a T20WC knockout match: Mitchell Starc: 4-0-60-0.

NZ 172/4 in 20 overs: Four to start as Starc comes around the wicket to Seifert who flicks it off his pads for FOUR. Starc rolls in a wide yorker and Seifert misses it. He gets a single before Neesham misses a juice half-tracker outside off. Starc goes down with a problem with his shoes and we have a break. A wide to follow up from Starc and Neesham finds a single before Seifert gives the strike back. Neesham drills the final ball down the ground and sneaks in two runs to finish - the highest team total in a T20 World Cup final!

Starc to finish

NZ 162/4 in 19 overs: Neesham pummels Cummins for a hefty SIX down the ground. Cummins keeps the batters to singles to follow up before Neesham sneaks in a risky two to finish.

Williamson's 85 is the joint-highest score in a T20 WC final

NZ 149/4 in 18 overs: Hazlewood to Phillips. OUT! Another man holes out to the deep mid-wicket fielder. A shot out of desperation and compulsion has Phillips on his way. Hazlewood keeps it tight on the stumps while bowling short and Phillips mistimes the pull. Easy take for Maxi in the deep.  Williamson carves another FOUR as he works Hazlewood behind square for FOUR. In the slot outside off and Williamson lofts him over mid-off.... uh oh, he finds the fielder at long-on. A sensational innings is wrapped up by Hazlewood. Williamson is dejected as he fails to power the ball over Steve Smith. Glenn Phillips c Maxwell b Hazlewood 18 (17b 1x4 1x6); Kane Williamson c Smith b Hazlewood 85 (48b 10x4 3x6)

NZ 144/2 in 17 overs: Cummins plays with his lengths and pace consistently and the batters fail to launch the big shots. Williamson and Phillips sneak in eight runs through fine running between the wickets. The Kiwis will be confident of an above-par finish nevertheless.

NZ 136/2 in 16 overs: Williamson carnage! Not something you'd associate him for but Williamson gets the over off to a top start with two streak fours behind short third. He picks up the third ball from the middle-stump and nonchalantly flicks Starc over mid-wicket for SIX! Starc offers him some width outside off and Williamson slices it past point for FOUR. Nothing's in favour for Starc here. A quick ball outside off has Williamson get a toe-edge trickle down to third man for another FOUR!

Starc returns

NZ 114/2 in 15 overs: Phillips takes the charge! Zampa floats the ball in and Phillips pumps it straight back for a mighty SIX! A sharp leg-break nearly clips Phillips' outside-edge before he replies with another lofted extra cover drive for FOUR.

NZ 102/2 in 14 overs: Cummins mixes up his pace once again and the batters find a couple of singles. 100 up for the Kiwis and they'll hope to shift gears  soon for a fine finish.

Fifties in both innings of the WTC final, fifty in the T20 WC final. Kane Williamson!

He Kane do it all.
 

Cummins into the attack

NZ 97/2 in 13 overs: FIFTY FOR WILLIAMSON! He gets there with some flair and panache as he smokes Maxwell for back-to-back sixes over deep mid-wicket. His firstt fifty of the tournament and it comes when it mattered the most.

Maxwell replaces Starc

NZ 81/2 in 12 overs: Zampa to Guptill. OUT! Slogs and straight to deep mid-wicket! A shot there for the taking and Guptill does not get desired power on it! A massive blow for the Kiwis right when they put a foot on the aggressor. Zampa loops the ball that falls on the slot and Guptill sits on the crease to execute his slog sweep, but a fraction too late on the stroke. Perhaps, a reflection of his sluggish night. Phillips in at 4. He gets off the mark rightaway with a flick down leg. Martin Guptill c Stoinis b Zampa 28 (35b 3x4)

NZ 76/1 in 11 overs: A couple of singles and Williamson creates room outside off and drives Starc to the deep and finds two. Low full toss onto the stumps and Williamson flicks it straight to the fielder at backward square, oh wait! Hazlewood lets the ball through his hands for FOUR! Finch isn't happy one bit there.  Starc goes full and Williamson drills it down the ground for FOUR. And FOUR more! Starc bowls a high-full toss over Kane's waist but he manages to loft over mid-wicket to the fence. Starc goes wide on the crease for the free hit and Williamson creams it to the deep for a four nearly, but ends up with two runs.

Starc is back

NZ 57/1 in 10 overs: Zampa continues to play with the lengths and Guptill isn't confident of lofting him over the inner-circle just yet. Six runs off it and we hit the halfway mark.

NZ 51/1 in 9 overs: Kane Class! Williamson finally breaks the shackles with a forced loft over extra cover for FOUR. Marsh goes short once again and Williamson rocks back with poise and pumps it through mid-wicket for another FOUR. And that's 50 for New Zealand.

Marsh into the attack

NZ 40/1 in 8 overs: Australia are running through the overs. Guptill is cramped up by Zampa who mixes up his length. Another quiet over and NZ manage three runs.

Zampa replaces Hazlewood

NZ 37/1 in 7 overs: Australia deftly pushing itself into command here. Williamson and Guptill tread in singles as Maxwell sneaks through another over.

Maxwell is back

NZ 32/1 in 6 overs: Top-draw stuff from Hazlewood. Williamson is pinned deep into the crease as Hazlewood tails the ball into his stumps. No room whatsoever to get off strike and he concedes five consecutive dots. Williamson hoicks the final ball to mid-wicket and gets away with two runs.

NZ 30/1 in 5 overs: Fine start for Cummins. The wicket begins to show its tacky nature as Cummins attempts to skid the ball off length to the batters. A couple of singles and Williamson is off the mark.

Cummins into the attack

NZ 28/1 in 4 overs: Hazlewood to Mitchell. OUT! Edged and GONE!  Hazlewood rolls in a slower one outside the off-stump and gets Mitchell off guard. He gets a faint edge on the ball and Wade lunges forward to complete a fine catch.  Daryl Mitchell c †Wade b Hazlewood 11 (8b, 1x6)

NZ 23/0 in 3 overs: Mitchell welcomes Maxi with a fine slog over long-on for SIX! Mitchell gets a single next ball. Maxwell pushes one in Guptill gets an inside-edge, and it looks it's dropped by Wade behind the stumps! Sharp chance there but you got to have them in your grasp on these big nights. Maxwell finds a hint of turn to finish as the batters rotate strike with a couple of singles.

Maxwell replaces Starc

NZ 13/0 in 2 overs: Excellent stuff from Hazlewood. He keeps it tight on the stumps and Guptill ensure a steady, straight bat to fend them off. He's hesitant off the flick across the line and holds his guard. He gets his due as Hazlewood bumps one short to the shoulders and Guptill swivels and pushes the ball down leg for FOUR.

Hazlewood from the opposite end

NZ 9/0 in 1 over: Starc begins with a delivery outside off and away from Guptill's reach. Width again and this time Guptill slaps it through cover for FOUR! Comes off the toe-edge but races to the fence in a flash. Guptill cuts square and the deep backward point fielder restricts it to a single. Starc pushes the ball into Mitchell who flicks it to square leg for three runs. Excellent running by the batters. Guptill retains strike with a single down to third man.

Mitchell Starc with the new ball. Guptill on strike.

HERE WE GOOOOO!  In walk the NZ openers, Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell. The Aussies have taken the field already.

The national anthems begin.

New Zealand XI:  Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

STAT: Kane Williamson & Trent Boult! They now become the first cricketers to appear in successive ICC finals in three different formats. - 14 July 2019 at Lord's CWC- 18-23 June 2021 at Southampton WTC - 14 Nov 2021 at Dubai T20 World Cup     - Mohandas Menon

Toss: Australia wins Toss, opts to bowl

Kane Williamson:  We would have fielded as well. It looks like a reasonable wicket and who knows about the dew. We have one obvious change:  Conway out and Seifert is in . It is a shame that he misses but as a team we have to move on and focus on the challenge at hand. Mitch Santner is a world class operator and it didn't quite work out in the match the other night. We don't want to look too far ahead and we just need to make a few small adjustments.

Aaron Finch : We'll have a bowl. Looks a little bit dry but I don't think it will change. It might skid with the new ball.  We're playing the same team . The way we hung in the contest and take it deep was crucial for us. Zampas has been superb for a while in the shortest format, and hopefully that will continue. It is a new format, a new team and our record over NZ doesn't matter at all.

TOSS TIME!

6:56PM IST: Warner all set to complete the redemption arc!

 

6:30PM IST: No better time than stealing the show and finding form in the night of a final. Can Kane pull it off tonight?

Captain Kane is here.
 

6:26PM IST: Nearly 30 minutes away from the toss. The Kiwis will have their concerns about a shaky batting order that has had their skipper playing below par while Devon Conway has been ruled due to a freakish injury. Tim Seifert is all but certain to take his spot but the BlackCaps cannot afford to lose its top-order in a haste tonight.

6:12PM IST: Slight tremors have been reported in Dubai, two hours before the final begins. UAE Met Office reports that the tremors were aftershocks from an earthquake in southern Iran.

5:48PM IST: Watto definitely knows a thing or two about tournament finals. However, it wasn't a favourable outing for him back then in the 2010 final. In fact, only two players from that final - Warner and Smith - are playing tonight.

 

5:42PM IST: Will the bowlers call the shots tonight? Left-arm vs left-arm; Leg-spin vs leg-spin

Most Wickets (NZ, AUS in T20 WC 2021): Adam Zampa - 12, Trent Boult - 11, Ish Sodhi - 9, Mitchell Starc - 9

5:35PM IST: How would it feel to boss the extreme formats of the game?

 

5:30PM IST: 17 knockout matches. 16 in favour of Australia! The Kiwis' kryptonite on the big stages have also been their mighty neighbour. Will this be the night where Williamson and Co. end the jinx? Remember, they are also 5-0 down in ICC knockout games.

5:24PM IST: Updates suggest that the final will be played on the same strip that was used in the IPL 2021 final - the only instance where the team batting first (CSK) won the game in Dubai over the last 17 occasions !

5:20PM IST: We're nearly there..!

 

5:00PM IST: Key Numbers

  • Kane Williamson has recorded just 131 runs in six outings, with a paltry strike rate of 94.24 - the second-lowest for any batter since the Super 12 (min. 6 innings)
  • Aaron Finch too, has struggled for runs, scoring 130 runs in six innings at SR of 119.26.
  • Warner vs Sodhi: 9 runs, 2 dismissals
  • Finch vs Sodhi: 45 runs, 3 dismissals
  • Stoinis vs Sodhi: 42 runs, 3 dismissals
  • Warner vs Southee: 86 from 47, 1 dismissal
  • Maxwell vs Boult: 24 runs, 2 dismissals

4:30PM IST: Here's what the captains had to say before the big night

Kane Williamson: Not too many advantages to either side except that we do play each other and have done so recently on a number of occasions, and had some really good contests. It's great that we're playing our neighbor from the other side of the world in a World Cup final, and it's a really exciting prospect for both teams. Aaron Finch: Everyone had written us off but we had a lot of confidence within. We're really confident in the way that we were preparing, the way that our strategy was coming together. I think it hasn't defied expectations. I think we came here with a really clear plan to win the tournament, and we still feel as though we've got the squad to do that.

Head to Head stats

MT: 14, NZ - 5, AUS - 9

In T20WC: MT: 1, NZ - 1, AUS - 0

HS (AUS) vs NZ: 245

LS (AUS) vs NZ: 96

HS (NZ) vs AUS: 243

LS (NZ) vs AUS: 10

Most Runs

  • Martin Guptill (NZ) - 435
  • Aaron Finch (AUS) - 251
  • Brendon McCullum (NZ) - 228

Most Wickets

  • Ish Sodhi (NZ) - 16
  • Ashton Agar  (AUS) - 13
  • Kane Richardson (AUS) - 11

 

MATCH PREVIEW

Not many would have predicted when the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup began, the trans-Tasman rivalry would set the Ring of Fire alight and a new T20 World champion would emerge.

New Zealand has forged such a strong campaign that you would think it is the favourite in the final. However, Australia has earned a reputation, over the years, of knowing how to win the big moments.

Trend continues

At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, teams chasing have won more than those forced to bat first. In the early part of the tournament, dew played a major role. However, as the weather has changed there is less dew, but the trend has somehow remained the same.

The two semifinals are a case in point. Despite facing stiff targets, both New Zealand and Australia got across the line with an over to spare against quality bowling attacks.

It can be argued that England did not have enough specialist death bowler options and that Shaheen Shah Afridi, while lethal with the swinging white ball, is a bit of a novice at the death, but this ignores the quality of batting that helped the teams win.

READ:

Mitchell in good nick

Daryl Mitchell, being used as an opener in this tournament, looked like he could not get the ball away or into the gaps early in his innings, but he backed himself, took the game deep and then secured victory for the Kiwis with a flourish.

For Australia, Matthew Wade emerged the most unlikely hero. Aaron Finch was nailed in front before he could get going and David Warner, who was the powerhouse of the innings, went before he could seal the issue.

Wade, considered a specialist who could make the most of the PowerPlay overs, was now in an unfamiliar role, attempting to be a finisher. And when he was called upon to deliver, he stood tall.

 

In that sense, both New Zealand and Australia enter the final knowing that they have players with variety and depth to go the distance.

For New Zealand, the strength is the different types of bowlers in its line-up. Trent Boult bowls left-arm seam with early swing; Tim Southee is an expert in cutters; Adam Milne brings pace and fire; Mitchell Santner bowls difficult to get away slow left-arm and Ish Sodhi’s leg-breaks are genuine wicket-taking options.

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Neesham can chip in

To top these, James Neesham can bowl a hard line, banging the ball in, giving Kane Williamson the luxury of using his bowlers however he chooses to.

Australia appears to be a top-heavy batting line-up, with Finch and Warner being the building blocks. Glenn Maxwell is yet to play a signature innings that he is known for.

Adam Zampa has given Finch control, but Mitchell Starc has not yet produced one of those bursts that knocks the wind out of the opposition. Despite the two big guns having not really fired, Australia has reached the final.

The Kangaroos are yet to play their best cricket. If the moving parts click into place and come together in the final, it may just be too good for New Zealand.

- Amol Karhadkar

NZ vs AUS PROBABLE PLAYING XI

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Daryll Mitchell, Kane Williamson, Tim Seifert (wk), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

READ |

NZ vs AUS DREAM11 FANTASY TEAM

Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade

Batters – David Warner (c) , Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell

All-rounders – Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, James Neesham (vc)

Bowlers – Josh Hazlewood, Trent Boult, Adam Zampa

Team Composition: NZ 5:6 AUS Credits left: 0.5

NZ vs AUS SQUADS

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), Tim Seifert, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult, Todd Astle, Kyle Jamieson, Mark Chapman

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Kane Richardson, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Swepson, Josh Inglis

NZ vs AUS WIN PROBABILITY

Australia (60%)

WHERE TO WATCH T20 WORLD CUP 2021 FINAL - NZ vs AUS?

The T20 World Cup 2021 final between New Zealand and Australia will be aired live on the Star SportsNetwork at 7:30pm IST. The online live streaming will be available on Disney+ Hotstar .

 

WHERE TO WATCH T20 WORLD CUP 2021 FINAL NZ vs AUS LIVE?

The New Zealand vs Australia match will be aired LIVE on Star Sports 1 , Star Sports 1 HD , Star Sports 1 Hindi , Star Sports 1 Hindi HD , Star Sports 1 Tamil , Star Sports 1 Telugu and Star Sports 1 Kannada from 7:30PM IST . The match will also be live streamed on Hotstar .