THE final was one-sided, but what an incredible run it was by Australia's and New Zealand's cricket teams up to and throughout the World Cup.
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A tournament lasting 49 days was full of drama.
The build-up for the Aussies and the Kiwis had lasted much longer.
Planning began soon after the 2012 World Cup campaign was over.
Few players have endured a summer like Australian captain Michael Clarke, pictured after the Cup win.
A succession of hamstring tears put his World Cup hopes in jeopardy.
After being on the sidelines for the first round clash with Bangladesh, Clarke returned to lead those in the “canary yellow” to claim the ultimate prize once again.
For New Zealand’s team a first appearance in a World Cup final was a “dream come true”.
A seven-wicket loss in Sunday’s final was not the way the Black Cap players or fans wanted the journey to end.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum summed it up perfectly when he said “it was a helluva ride”.
As a co-host of the tournament, New Zealand also felt the pressure of performing on home turf.
The Black Caps did so superbly in an unbeaten run to the final.
New Zealand’s dare to take the game on was outstanding.
“There’s an element of fearlessness about how we play which has an effect on other teams,” McCullum said on reflecting on the World Cup run.
McCullum’s dismissal when bowled by Mitchell Starc on the third ball of the final sparked a roar not heard in one-day cricket for a long time.
An Australian attack led by Starc, Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner kept piling on the pressure.
In a sport where momentum will ebb and flow it was Australia which dominated early before New Zealand hit back through Elliott and Ross Taylor.
Kiwis’ hopes lifted as Grant Elliott struck a brilliant 83.
Wickets in consecutive deliveries by Faulkner again turned the contest in what was to be a huge way.
Despite the early stumble when Aaron Finch was caught on nought, Australia’s chase kept on gathering pace.
In the last innings of his one-day international cricket career, Clarke turned back the clock with a team-high 74.
An outstanding summer by Steve Smith ended with an unbeaten 56.
Although he had not starred in many of the pool matches, David Warner’s blistering 45 was the innings that mattered most.
“They were too good. On the occasion, they delivered,” McCullum said of Australaia’s play.
World champions in the one-day format, Australia is now determined to regain top spot in the Test rankings.
A Test tour of the West Indies in June for Australia’s stars will then be followed by another battle for The Ashes across England in July and August.
