NZ vs AUS final highlights: Marsh, Warner win Australia their first T20 WC

Opener David Warner's 38-ball 53 and Marsh's 50-ball unbeaten 77 meant that Australia overhauled the target with consummate ease in 18.5 overs.

6:57 PM

Aussies have 'match winners' but Kiwis will win final, feels McCullum

6:51 PM

NZ vs AUS Toss prediction: Team would look to chase

Finch said that every team throughout the world wants to chase in the shortest format, but he also talked about the importance of putting big scores on the board.

 

"I reckon around the world a lot of teams love chasing in T20 cricket. It does come with its risks, though. If an opposition puts up a big total on the board, it can be difficult to chase it down, regardless of where you're playing. It's a Catch 22, but the trend of the tournament has been chasing," said Finch.

 

"Anytime you play New Zealand you know how much of a contest it's going to be. They're so disciplined in all three facets of the game. Their fielding is outstanding and they're a team you have to be on for all 40 overs if you're going to get over the line. They seem to just hang around for long enough in any kind of contest and wear you down. They fight and scrap in every situation," he added.
 

6:43 PM

Will toss make a difference in the final?

Australia skipper Aaron Finch on Saturday reckoned that toss would not be a big factor in the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand will square off in the finals of the World Cup on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

 

"Absolutely it can be overcome. At some point, to win this tournament you're going to have to win batting first. I was actually hoping to lose the toss against Pakistan because I would have loved to put a score on the board in that semi-final. It was one of those ones where you're probably never going to bat first but you don't mind if you have to. It's the same going into the final," Sydney Morning Herald quoted Finch as saying.

 

"We saw it in the IPL final. Chennai were able to put a big score on the board and really squeeze there. It comes down to the day. If you can put a total on the board and make the opposition take risks early in their innings, then that's what it's all about," he added.
 

6:27 PM

Lehman reckons New Zealand will be tough to beat in final

Former Australia batter Darren Lehmann on Sunday said that New Zealand will be tough to beat for Australia in the finals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

 

Australia and New Zealand will be locking horns in the final of the T20 World Cup on Sunday evening at the Dubai International Stadium.

 

"Good luck to both sides at the @ICCWorldCupT20i, @AusCricket_ @BLACKCAPS. Gut feeling is an Aussie win with the big boys standing up. Both teams have been excellent and looking forward to it. NZ a very good side and will be tough to beat," tweeted Lehmann.

 

The Aaron Finch-led side has lost one match in the ongoing tournament when the team went down to England last month.

 

Since then Australia has revamped themselves and are on the winning run going into the finals of the T20 World Cup.

 

Finch on Saturday said the aftermath of Australia's heavy defeat to England helped propel his side into the finals, where they face New Zealand.

 

"We were disappointed after that game, obviously. "We had a couple of days off to regroup after a gruelling couple of weeks of the tournament when we had to go through quarantine and really hard training," Finch had said in a pre-match press conference.

 

"It gave us the chance to freshen up mentally and physically. We talked about staying committed to being aggressive," he added.
 

6:23 PM

New Zealand vs Australia final PREVIEW

The fiestiness of Australia will clash with the tactical shrewdness of a perennially understated New Zealand when the Trans-Tasman rivals battle for their maiden T20 World Cup trophy here on Sunday.

 

Considering how both Australia and New Zealand won their respective semifinals against fancied opponents, one can expect another dramatic finish at the "Ring of Fire".

 

Australia, who have won a record five World Cup titles in 50-over cricket, have surprisingly not got their hands on the T20 showpiece.

 

New Zealand, on the other hand, have always been consistent in ICC events but now seem to have the self-belief of going all way under Kane Williamson's astute leadership.

 

It will be their first T20 World Cup final and if they do end up winning it, it will be a remarkable achievement for a country of five million which keeps churning out world-class players.

 

Australia hold the upper-hand over the reigning world Test champions in overall T20 meetings but the Black Caps won their only meeting in the World Cup back in the 2016 edition in India.

 

Their last meeting in a World Cup final, in the 50-over format in 2015, was bossed by the Aussies, who have not won an ICC event since then.

 

Fans of both the teams will have to work against their body clock to watch the game from their TV sets with the final starting well past midnight in both the countries.

 

New Zealand, who have been the best bowling side of the group stage, showed their batting class in the semifinals against pre-tournament favourites.

 

Martin Guptill enjoys a good record against Australia in T20s and his opening partner Daryl Mitchell goes into the final having played the innings of his life.

 

Skipper Kane Williamson is due for a big score and expect him to rise to the occasion on Sunday.

 

Jimmy Neesham proved his value in the middle-order against England but New Zealand will miss the services of Devon Conway who punched his bat in frustration after getting dismissed in the semifinal and ended up breaking his right hand. Tim Seifert is set to replace him. Read more

 

6:00 PM

ICC T20 World Cup 2021: New Zealand vs Australian live

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of New Zealand vs Australia final at Dubai International stadium