News Digest

Australia crush New Zealand to win fifth Cricket World Cup title

Australia beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday to win the World Cup for the fifth time and send their retiring captain Michael Clarke out as a winner. Australian bowlers Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner captured three wickets each as the home side skittled New Zealand for 183 in 45 overs. Grant Elliott top scored for the Black Caps with 83 but New Zealand’s hopes of winning the World Cup for the first time were dealt a savage blow when their captain Brendon McCullum was bowled for a duck in the first over of the day. Australia reached their victory target in the 34th over for the loss of just three wickets.

Unbelievable feeling, we said we wanted to play our best game towards the end of the tournament and to win this final three down, I thought the boys were outstanding tonight.

Australia batsman Steve Smith, who scored the winning runs

Clarke, who announced before the match that he was retiring from one-day internationals, guided his team to victory with a sparkling 74, departing to a standing ovation with Australia nine runs away from victory. Steve Smith (pictured right), his likely replacement as Australia’s next captain, hit the winning runs and finished not out 56 in front of a record crowd of 93,013. Australia have won four of the last five World Cups, an astonishing record of dominance unlikely to ever be repeated. Faulkner, who took 3-36, was named Man of the Match. Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc was named the player of the tournament.