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T20 World Cup Final Kane Williamsons Onslaught Helps New Zealand Put 1724 Against Australia

T20 World Cup | Final: Kane Williamson's onslaught helps New Zealand put 172/4 against Australia

New Zealand posted a good total on the board after the initial struggle against Australia in the T20 World Cup final in Dubai on Sunday evening. After being put in to bat by Australia skipper Aaron Finch, the Blackcaps began the proceedings in a cautious manner and openers Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell put 28 for the first wicket before the latter departed.

Guptill was then joined by captain Kane Williamson in the middle and the two batters steadied the ship for the side but the striking rate was still an issue for the Kiwis. Guptill was eventually sent back in the hut for a 35-ball 28 by Adam Zampa after being caught by Marcus Stoinis but what unleashed next was simply a batting masterclass from Williamson.

The right-handed batsman began to accelerate and took on the Australian bowling attack. He eventually struck 85 off 48, a knock that included three maximums and 10 fours during the course to help his side put 172/4 in 20 overs on the board.

For Australia, it was Josh Hazlewood who was the pick of the bowlers after he returned with impressive figures of 3/16 in 4 overs on a day where almost every bowler struggled.

Pacer Mitchell Starc had the worst day at the office after he gave away 60 runs in his 4 overs, most by any bowler in the history of World T20 finals.

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Mitchell Starc becomes the most expensive bowler in T20 World Cup final

Australia’s Mitchell Starc became the most expensive bowler to have ever bowled in the T20 World Cup final after conceding runs in the final against New Zealand. He was taken for the cleaners by New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson who gathered 26 runs in just one over. Although Starc came back well in his last over and gave away only 10 runs, but eventually, he finished his spell with 0-60. The Australian pacer was unlucky in the sense that Josh Hazlewood dropped the catch Williamson on his bowling in only his second over. The 31-year-old went for 9 runs in the first over and 15 in the second. Courtesy of this most expensive spell, even the brilliant bowling by Josh Hazlewood, who conceded only 16 in his four overs was overshadowed. Starch broke the previous record of the most expensive spell in a T20 World Cup final when Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka conceded 54 in his four overs in the 2012 T20 World Cup final against West Indies. That Windies side won the match and the Cup.

T20 World Cup | Final: Kane Williamson leads New Zealand from the front with crucial fifty

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson led his side from the front with a fifty in the final against Australia. He was slow to start with and struggled to capitalise on the powerplay over but got stuck into Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell to reach the milestone in 32 balls. Williamson had to see off impressive bowling from Jos Hazlewood and Adam Zampa but he was also aware of Australia’s fifth bowling options in Maxwell. Starc’s horrible second over gave him the breathing space with a flurry of loose balls and he upped the ante from that point. New Zealand were in trouble early on with the man in form Daryl Mitchell going out without making a significant contribution and Martin Guptill struggling to time the ball. New Zealand lost the toss and were asked to bat first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and both the sides are chasing their maiden T20 World Cup title.

WBBL 2021 | Smriti Mandhana shine in Thunder’s derby win

India Women’s player and one of the finest batters in the women’s game, Smriti Mandhana hit a comprehensive 45 in Sydney Thunder Women’s chase of 95 against cross-town rivals Sixers Women. This was the second Sydney Derby of the Women’s Big Bash League 2021 with the first one being abandoned due to rain. Firstly the Thunder bowlers reduced the Ellyse Perry-led side to only 94-6 even as Perry herself remained unbeaten on 40. Isabelle Wong and Hannah Darlington took two wickets each for the Thunder side. In the chase, Mandhana played anchor and scored 39-ball 45 to guide her team to only their third victory this season which made them move up from the bottom of the table to seventh place. For Sixers, it was their seventh loss of the season and they are placed at the sixth position, only one point ahead of the Thunder. In another game, Adelaide Strikers Women beat Brisbane Heat Women by eight wickets to stop their three-match winning run and continue their winning streak which has been stretched up to four at the moment. Courtesy of Amanda-Jade Wellington and co.’s bowling effort, Strikers reduced Heat to only 94-7 in their 20 overs and then, even after losing their foreign imports Dane van Niekerk and Laura Wolvaardt early, Katie Mack and Tahlia McGrath finished the game with their unbeaten 88 run partnership. Mack with her fifty was the top scorer.

T20 World Cup | Final: New Zealand off to a cautious start against Australia

New Zealand were off to a cautious start in the power play overs against Australia in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday in Dubai. After being put into bat by Australian skipper Aaron Finch who won the toss, the Blackcaps could only manage to score 32/1 in the first six overs. Openers Daryl Mitchell and Martin Guptill did gather some quick runs in the very first over but they didn’t really capitalise on the start and the scoring rate dipped. Mitchell was eventually undone by Josh Hazlewood in the fourth over after wicket-keeper Matthew Wade took a good catch to dismiss the batsman for an 8-ball 11 which included a maximum off Glenn Maxwell. Guptill was unbeaten at 17 off 20 while Williamson was at 3* off 8 after the conclusion of the powerplay. Both Australia and New Zealand are in search of their first T20I title.