Part 2 - Top 5 Moments of CWC15

If Rahat's catch drop of Shane Watson in that amazing spell by Riaz, was the world cup dropping moment then the first over bowled by Mitchell Starc was as good as clinching the world cup for Australia vs New Zealand in the #CWC15 final.

Both the co hosts had trounced all other opposition and reached the finals. There were amazing performers on each side and their were a lot of mini battles in store in the big finale. 

None bigger than the one between #BrendonMcCullum, the Kiwi skipper and his super aggressive opening batting that shell shocked oppositions into submission vs #MitchellStarc, a revelation of a fast bowler in the tournament in awesome form and clearly vying for the player of the tournament prize along with Trent Boult.

As luck would have it, both were at each other first up.
McCullum won the toss and elected to bat first on a great #MCG wicket.
Runs on the board in a big final was their strategy. 

McCullum clearly had a plan to tackle Starc by unsettling him off his line/length and putting pressure on the rest of the bowling lineup. Starc on the other hand planned to get Mc as soon as possible to be on top!

MartinGuptill took first strike against Starc.
After a leave, he steered one to third man for a single.

Big Mc on strike.
The two warriors facing each other. 
Battle about to explode.

Starc's first ball to McCullum is greeted by a dance down the wicket, missed and the ball shaves ever to close to the off stump. How did it miss off? everyone wonders.

The next one is another inswinging delivery that misses a advancing McCullum and goes to the keeper. 

Two balls, Two attacking attempts, Two misses.
Something had to give in.

The next delivery started outside off and swung in late.
McCullum this time remained in crease expecting a short one but it was full and swinging. The ball swing past inside of his bat and crashed in the base of off stump. Timberrrrrrr! 
Fire lights glow up!

Starc over the moon runs a mini lap towards sqaure leg, Aussie fielders swarm in on him from everywhere, the MCG erupts in joy ..... the big fish was netted early. Huge bonus to start the World Cup final like this!

McCullum dazed by that blow, trudged back to the pavilion with a lot of IFs in head. Could he have been a bit more patient? Could he not have seen off Starc and attack at the other end? If he fell early did his Kiwi troops have ammunition to recover? Lot of questions but answer was only one

Brendon McCullum bowled Starc 0

Kiwis never really recovered from that blow and Australia registered a magnificent win that evening. It all started from them in that first magical over by Starc!

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CWC 2015 LIVE - 2 Quick Wickets Pegs Australia Back v NZ

#Aus v #NZ, #Auckland
28th Feb 2015

#DanielVettori has brought the Kiwis back in the game brilliantly.
Brought in to bowl in the opening #Powerplay to curb the rampaging #Aussies, he has produced a dream spell of control, guile and produced the much needed breakthrough. He had #ShaneWatson caught in the deep by Tim Southee.

Immediately after that, Southee trapped the very dangerous #DavidWarner #legbefore.
Warner and Clarke reviewed it but #hawkeye went with the umpire and out was the decision.

Two new batsmen at the crease
#MichaelClarke playing an international after almost 3 months
#StevenSmith

#LIVE #Score - 94 for 3 from 16 overs.

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CWC 2015 LIVE - Feeling the Buzz Already - Aus v NZ

#Aus v #NZ , #EdenPark, #Auckland
28th Feb 2015

The Australia v NewZealand game looks to be living to its reputation.
The game has just started but you can feel the buzz ... an intensity at a different level.
Hope it remains that way and match lives up to its huge billing.

Australia have won the toss and elected to bat first.

After 11 overs, they are 70 for 1.
#DavidWarner and #ShaneWatson at the crease just getting their eyes in.

#AaronFinch bowled by #TimSouthee.

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Australia vs New Zealand 1996 World Cup Quarter Final

Defining Moments of #ICCWorldCup

Aus v NZ , 1996, Quarterfinal (Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)

Traditional rivals and battle of the Trans Tasmanians.

In the sweltering heat of Chennai, the two teams clashed for a place in the semifinals against the West Indies. Australia were the clear favorites to go through to the next round. But the Kiwis had different ideas. 

From a shaky start, the Kiwis plundered the Aussie attack to all parts of the park  through captain #LeeGermon and #ChrisHarris (who played the innings of his international career that day). They crossed the 200 mark undr 35 overs and it looked like they would easily cross 300.

Thats when Germon holed out in the deep, Harris followed suit and the innings derailed. In the end, NZ scored 288 in their stipulated 50 overs. A challenging score nonetheless.

In reply, the Aussies started very cautiously trying to hold wickets but lost Taylor in the process.
#RickyPonting and #MarkWaugh progressed steadily to 80 before Ponting was caught the deep in the 20th over. This meant the required scoring rate had gone very high (around 7 runs for per over!)

This is when Australia threw their first dice.
#ShaneWarne promoted up the order as a pinch hitter to get the momentum going.
And he did just that. He scored 26 rapid fire runs and got the innings going again before getting out to #DionNash. Yet, Australia were far from safety and looking down the barrel.

In walked the other twin, #SteveWaugh. He along with Mark staged an unbelievable come back in the game. Steve at his dogged best and Mark at his fluidic best launched into the Kiwi bowling. A lot of evening dew didn't help the Kiwis either. Am sure they rued scoring atleast 30 runs less on that track and the position they were in!   

Mark Waugh completed a wonderful century (110) to sniff  out the Kiwi challenge. One of the best one day knocks chasing a big total! StuartLaw and Steve completed the formalities and Australia chased down the score with an over to spare!

Turning points:
 - Lee Germon's wicket in the Kiwi innings derailed their progress
 - Shane Warne's counter attacking innings got Australia much needed momentum
 - Mark Waugh took the cake by producing one the best one day knocks of all time!

Full highlights of the game here...