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| Australia defeats New Zealand and wins the T20 World Championship |
In the hunt for 173 for the win, Australia relied on a 92-run
second-wicket stand between David Warner, who made 53, and Marsh for their
seven-ball goal in Dubai.
Warner became Trent Boult's second wicket, but Marsh kept the
attack going to make Australia its long-awaited T20 crown and add to its five
50-over World Cup trophies.
Glenn Maxwell, who made 28, joined Marsh, who hit six fours
and four sixes on his 50-ball knock to make 66 runs and hit the winning line as
the Aussies stormed in to celebrate the triumph.
Skipper Kane Williamson reached a brave 85 in New Zealand's
172-4 after being invited to strike first in a crucial throw won by Aaron Finch
as the chasing teams won all but one game at the venue.
Australia, whose previous best was a runner-up in 2010,
advanced to the semi-finals of this edition losing to England and defeating
Pakistan in the final of four with a chase of 177.
Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood returned numbers 3-16
and leg spinner Adam Zampa had 1-26.
Australia suffered an early blow in their chase when Finch
left Boult for five when a largely neutral but not fully occupied audience
roared.
But the left-right pair of Warner and Marsh combined bowling
with fours and sixes galore.
Marsh hit Adam Milne on his first three hits with a one-six
and two fours to signal his reckless intent.
Warner also kept up his punitive act when he pounded the leg
spinner Ish Sodhi for 17 runs in a single over for Marsh.
He smoked Jimmy Neesham for a six to add to his third half-century of the tournament but soon fell to Boult.
Warner, with a total of 289 runs, was second behind
Pakistan's Babar Azam (303) in the tournament beat table.
Williamson, who was dropped at 21, used to start out
cautiously, but once he got settled in, he took up opposing bowling to make his
first half-century of the tournament.
He finished his 48-ball blitz with 10 fours and three sixes
to lift New Zealand 57-1 in 10.
The Kiwis initially struggled and lost Daryl Mitchell, who
was left behind for 11 ahead of Hazlewood.
Opening batsman Martin Guptill was unable to get quick runs
with Williamson despite his three boundaries and a 48-run second-wicket stand.
Williamson survived a Hazlewood spill down below, with the
ball pounding from the outfield's hand to find the limit. Pace spearhead
Mitchell Starc was the thrower.
The captain hit back with two more fours from the left fast
starc, who was taken off his four overs for 60 runs to inject some momentum
into the innings.
Zampa sent Guptill back to the dugout after the 35-Ball 28
opener, but Williamson kept the attack up with two sixes ahead of Maxwell.
Williamson picked Starc again to win four fours and one six
in a 16th.
Hazlewood returned on his final over to break the booth with
Phillips wicket and then use a leg trimmer to get Williamson out of the way.
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