Australia beat Black Caps to claim CWC

11:52 pm on 29 March 2015

Australia have won the Cricket World Cup in front of a home crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground tonight.

New Zealand were no match for Australia, posting just 183 runs off 45 overs, which the home side reached with 7 wickets and 16.5 overs to spare.

Australia's captain, Michael Clarke, top scored for his side with 74 in what was his last One Day match for Australia.

New Zealand started the second innings strongly when Trent Boult caught and bowled opener Aaron Finch for a duck in the second over of the match.

Australian batsman Michael Clarke plays a shot.

Australian batsman Michael Clarke plays a shot. Photo: AFP

Trent Boult (L) is congratulated by teammate Daniel Vettori (R) after dismissing Australia's Aaron Finch.

Trent Boult (L) is congratulated by teammate Daniel Vettori (R) after dismissing Australia's Aaron Finch. Photo: Photosport

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, they got off to a terrible start with captain Brendon McCullum clean bowled for a duck in the first over by Mitchell Starc.

His fellow opener, Martin Guptill, and Kane Williamson had begun to stabilise the Black Caps innings with a partnership of 32, before Guptill was bowled by Australia's Glenn Maxwell for 15 runs.

Kane Williamson was caught and bowled by Mitchell Johnson in the next over for 12.

Follow live commentary from the match here

Grant Elliott survived a scare when he was given out LBW while on 15, but the wicket was overturned when a review found the ball to be missing the stumps.

Ross Taylor and Elliott then took back control of the match, and struck up a partnership of 111 - with Elliott reaching his half century off just 51 balls.

Trent Boult takes a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Australian batsman Aaron Finch.

Trent Boult takes a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Australian batsman Aaron Finch. Photo: AFP

But the innings began unravelling when Taylor was caught behind for 40 with a brilliant catch by Brad Haddin off the bowling of James Faulkner.

Just two balls later Faulkner bowled big-hitter Corey Anderson for a duck, and in the following over Luke Ronchi was caught in the slips also for a duck.

In the 40th over Elliott survived another LBW shout - it was originally deemed not out by umpire Kumar Dharmasena - but Australia reviewed the call.

It was found to be pitching outside off stump and remained not out.

Daniel Vettori managed to score 9 before he was clean bowled by Mitchell Johnson, and Elliott joined him in the sheds in the next over, with Faulkner again claiming the wicket with another catch behind the wicket by the keeper.

It was then only a matter of time before the tail end batters were dismissed - Matt Henry was caught for a duck, and Tim Southee made 11 before he was run out to finish the match.

Boult finished on 0 not out.

Faulkner and Johnson were the stars for the Australian bowling attack, claiming 3 wickets each.

Mitchell Starc finished the innings with 2 wickets and Glenn Maxwell got 1.

Follow LIVE tweets from Glen Scanlon throughout the match.

Australia's batsman David Warner (C) looks towards the sky after New Zealand's fielder Ross Taylor (R) dropped his potential catch.

Australia's batsman David Warner (C) looks towards the sky after New Zealand's fielder Ross Taylor (R) dropped his potential catch. Photo: AFP

New Zealand batsman Daniel Vettori is bowled by Australia's fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.

New Zealand batsman Daniel Vettori is bowled by Australia's fast bowler Mitchell Johnson. Photo: AFP

Australia take the wicket of Brendon McCullum.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is bowled by Australia's Mitchell Starc Photo: Photosport

New Zealand:

Brendon McCullum (c)

Corey Anderson

Trent Boult

Grant Elliott

Martin Guptill

Matt Henry

Luke Ronchi (wk)

Tim Southee

Ross Taylor

Daniel Vettori

Kane Williamson

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