T20 World Cup 2021, Final: New Zealand vs Australia, Stats Review: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh’s record-breaking knocks take Aussies to maiden title

Australia have added another ICC title to their cabinet! They are the new World T20 champions. The Men in Yellow defeated New Zealand by eight wickets in the T20 World Cup 2021 final to get the glory. It was indeed an emphatic win as the Aussies had to chase 173 against a formidable Kiwi bowling attack. However, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh embraced the challenge and took Aussies to another world title.

Earlier in the game, Australia won the all-important toss and unsurprisingly elected to bowl at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell played some fine shots in the powerplay overs as the Kiwis got off to a steady start. However, things changed after the latter was dismissed. The scoring rate went down in the next few overs but little did Aussie bowlers know, Kane Williamson would unleash an onslaught.

From Mitchell Starc to Adam Zampa, Williamson spared none and scored runs for fun. Riding on his efforts, the Kiwi team posted 172/4 while batting first. Chasing the challenging score, the Aussies lost skipper Aaron Finch cheaply and seemed on the back foot. However, David Warner joined forces with Mitchell Marsh and the duo bounced back with a 92-run stand.

Both dashers scored half-centuries and put Australia on command. Although Warner was dismissed for 53, Marsh carried on and slammed an unbeaten 77. The remaining contest was a mere formality as the Aussies crossed the line in – overs, winning the contest by eight wickets. Notably, Glenn Maxwell also played some fine shots to see Australia home.

Meanwhile, here are the important stats and numbers from New Zealand vs Australia final clash in T20 World Cup 2021:

4 – Australia became the fourth team to win all three ICC titles in white-ball cricket – 50-over World Cup, 20-Over World Cup, and Champions Trophy. India, Pakistan, and West Indies are other teams with the feat.

173/2 – Australia’s total of 173/2 is the highest ever in the ICC World T20 final.

3 – Australia chased down the third-highest target at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, 173.

3 – New Zealand became the first team to play three ICC finals on the trot.

5.33 – New Zealand scored at a run rate of 5.33 in the powerplay, the lowest for them in the T20 World Cup 2021.

2 – Kane Williamson became the second captain after Kumar Sangakkara to slam a half-century in a T20 World Cup final.

7 – Williamson became the seventh player to score 50-plus scores in knock-out games of both ODI and T20 World Cups.

3 – Williamson also became the third New Zealand player after Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum to complete 2000 runs in T20Is.

31 – Mitchell Marsh slammed the fastest fifty in the history of T20 World Cup finals, getting the feat in 31 balls. Interestingly, Williamson achieved the record in the first innings, reaching 50 off 32 balls.

600 – Marsh also became the first Australian batter to score 600 T20I runs in a calender year.

85 – Williamson also recorded the joint-highest score in a T20 World Cup final, 85. He now shares the feat with Marlon Samuels.

60 – Mitchell Starc conceded 60 runs in this game, most for any bowler in a T20 World Cup final.

2 – Starc’s tally of 60 runs is also the second-highest by an Australian bowler in a T20I match. Andrew Tye gave away 64 against New Zealand in 2018.

289 – David Warner now holds the record of scoring most runs in a T20 World Cup for Australia, going past Matthew Hayden’s 265 runs in 2007.

3/16 – Josh Hazlewood’s figures of 3/16 are the joint best in a World T20 final by a pacer. Irfan Pathan’s figures read the same in the 2007 T20 World Cup final against Pakistan.

7 – Josh Hazlewood took most wickets in the powerplay overs (7) since the start of the Super 12 stage in the T20 World Cup 2021.