Australia beat New Zealand: Here are the key takeaways
Title holders Australia came up with an exquisite performance as they overcame New Zealand in the match number 37 of the ICC World Cup 2019 at Lord's in London on Saturday. Aussies stomped their authority by beating one of the top teams comprehensively. Notably, they have already qualified for the semis. Meanwhile, let us have a look at the key takeaways.
How did the match pan out?
Winning the toss, Australian skipper Aaron Finch elected to bat first. As the track assisted bowlers, they struggled to get runs. However, Usman Khawaja (88) and Alex Carey (71) propelled Australia to 243/9. Trent Boult picked a hat-trick. In reply, it was Mitchell Starc's deadly bowling (5/26) that decimated New Zealand, as Aussies registered a big win.
Lockie Ferguson is Williamson's go-to man
This edition, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has been giving the ball in crucial situations to pacer Lockie Ferguson. And, the latter also has a knack of picking important wickets. Ferguson has turned into a genuine wicket-taker with his raw pace and variations. Even in the match against Australia, he picked up important wickets of David Warner and Steve Smith.
Have Australia found their new Gilchrist?
Australia's wicket-keeper batsman Alex Carey has been impressive in this tournament. He has scored 244 runs at an average of 61. His gameplay has a strong resemblance to former Australian great wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist. Like Gilchrist, he is an aggressive batsman who can terrorize bowlers with this hard-hitting abilities. Twice, in this tournament, he has shown his ability to bat long.
Australia prove why they are five-time world champions
Australian top order had a tough time batting yesterday, with the Kiwi bowlers overpowering them with their pace. However, their middle-order made sure that they were able to recover and post a competitive total. The fighting spirit has been synonymous with the Australian unit and last night's match was another indication of the Aussies proving why they are the best in the business.
Starc is bowling at a different level
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc came into this World Cup after missing the bulk of the season due to his injury. And he started off from where he left in 2015 World Cup. Starc has been operating at a different level and his 5/26 just cemented his legacy as one of the greats. He became the first bowler to take three fifers in World Cup.
Tom Latham needs to find his form back
New Zealand's wicket-keeper batsman Tom Latham has been enduring a difficult time. In this edition, he is yet to get past the score of 15. As they approach the knock-outs, it is now or never for Latham. In case he fails to fire against England in the last league match, Williamson might be tempted to drop him from his XI.
