Aussies curry Kiwis to clinch 5th World Cup title

KABUL Cup title on Sunday with a seven-wicket victory over neighbours and co-hosts New Zealand in a disappointing final.

The mighty Australians bowled out the Black Caps for 183 and then galloped to victory in the 34th over, as a record crowd of 93,013 watched at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Michael Clarke smashed 74 in his last one-day international and added 112 runs for the third wicket with his likely successor Steve Smith, who returned unbeaten with 56.

Left-arm fast bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, James Faulkner and Mitchell Johnson shared eight wickets after the Kiwis elected to bat on a good pitch.

Captain Brendon McCollum fell off the fifth ball of the innings for a duck and two other frontline batsmen, Corey Anderson and Luke Ronchi, also failed to score.

Grant Elliott top-scored with 83, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 111 with Ross Taylor (40) after New Zealand were reduced to 39 for three in the 13th over.

The massive crowd saw New Zealand lose their last seven wickets for 33 runs and crumbling after going into the final as the only unbeaten team in the 14-nation event.

Their eight wins include a one-wicket success over Australia in a low-scoring pool stage thriller.

Australia’s previous titles came in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007, with coach Darren Lehmann, a two-time World Cup winner as a player, celebrating another success off the field.

Clarke was bowled by Henry just nine runs short of victory and was given a standing ovation by teammates and fans as he returned to the pavillion.

Smith sealed victory by pulling Henry for a boundary, sparking jubilant scenes in the stands as Clarke and the rest of the team ran onto the field to embrace him

Afghanistan, who appeared in the mega event for the first time, returned home with a solitary win over Scotland.

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