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Welcome to Wisden’s live match centre for the T20 World Cup 2021 final between Australia and New Zealand on November 14 – follow this space for live updates from the ground, commentary, real-time analysis, stats and score, along with where to watch (TV and live streaming details) for the NZ vs AUS final.

T20 WC final, Australia v New Zealand: Live Scorecard, Stats And Prediction

The match so far: Australia on course to hunt down 173

T20 World Cup, Australia v New Zealand: Live updates

11 needed off the last two overs, and you can expect Maxwell and Marsh to easily take them through from here.

This is some World Cup win for the Aussies .. From the defeat to England they have been so powerful .. Mitch marsh is one of the great guys so he deserves this .. he will probably now have a big affect on the Ashes as well .. @FoxCricket #T20WorldCupFinal Well done Australia !!

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 14, 2021

Two months ago, David Warner was dropped and then asked to stay back at the team hotel at the IPL. Here he is today playing a stunner in a World Cup final. Sport is a great leveller.

— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) November 14, 2021

Spare a thought for Williamson, who played a gem of an innings, but the Kiwis have been left wanting in the bowling department tonight, unable to keep the Australians in check. First, it was Warner, holding the innings together, followed by Marsh, who has kept going since.

Dejected New Zealand faces being captured on telly. The interest has waned considerably inside the stadium. Australia slowly moving towards the inevitable here. 23 needed off the last four overs.

Mitchell Marsh has really made a difference at No.3, hasn’t he? And he’s stepping up today when it matters the most.

48 off the last six is what the equation is now. There could still be a twist in the game, who knows. But barring Boult, the others have struggled to really put the breaks on an Australian batting that continues to coast towards the total.

Fifty for Finch. Sodhi is really being carted around today. Another batter reaches his fifty with a six!

Over 13, Australia 109-2, Ooh, will the match turn from here?

Maxwell is in, after Warner is sent back by Boult. They’ll have to quickly restart their pursuit here. With each dot ball, the run-rate continues to go into dangerous territory.

Warner is dismissed at a really crucial juncture! Is this the twist New Zealand badly wanted?

The 100 is up with more than 8 overs to go. They are coasting at the moment.

Over 11, Australia 97-1, Warner switches to third gear as Australia on course

These two have really taken the game away from New Zealand here. It hasn’t been an all-out attack, but bursts of acceleration in the middle, with some healthy running between the wickets.

The Kiwis need a breakthrough, and quick. Can Santner provide them that?

Some Jimmy Neesham time, again! 

We’re just 10 overs (or less) away from knowing who’s the next World Cup winner. The Kiwis are in a huddle, sipping their drinks. Warner and Marsh are chatting with a bunch of reserve players (and Justin Langer).

Over 9, Australia 77-1, Warne gets going after slow start

And Warner is going after Sodhi, helped along by some poor lines. He’s been in such good form throughout the tournament, not hurrying for his strokes, and takes his time before going on the charge. This is very much in Australia’s territory now.

113 needed now from 72.

Warner is going at a run a ball right now – he’s likely to look for more scoring opportunities against Sodhi.

Over 8, Australia 60-1 – Marsh, Warner solid in response

The Australians are content with nudging the ball around against spin. The run-rate has crept past 9, but they’re also found ways to keep the attack going.

Spin is in with Ish Sodhi into the attack.

I am backing Warner to play a Williamson-esque knock today. Not speaking just in terms of quality, but the role, which will require someone to bat long here. He’s settled fairly well – they need a 70 or 80 from him tonight.

Over 4, Aus 30-1 – Marsh on a roll!

Mitchell Marsh is out there to play some aggressive cricket. 15 off the first four for him.

Adam Milne is in, and has been dismissed for a six by Marsh first up. He follows it with a delectable steer past the wicketkeeper for a four. And then, he whacks a short one to the deep midwicket fence.

Over 3, Australia 15-1 – Finch falls

Finch is gone! Huge wicket, and it’s Boult who does the damage. Goes for the big stroke, but can’t clear midwicket.

Over 2: Aus 11-0 – A decent start

Lots of edges in those two overs first up, but importantly Australia haven’t lost a wicket. Warner looking to be aggressive early on is a good sign, but Australia will want him to bat deep today, especially to counter Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner.

Back in this and it’s Trent Boult starting off against David Warner and Aaron Finch. Watch out for Boult against Finch and the big inswinger.

We’ll be back in ten minutes with the break.

Innings break, New Zealand 172-4 (20)

That’s great recovery from the Kiwis, and it’s solely down to one man – Williamson. Between overs 4 and 8, they added just 14 runs, and it looked like they’re really going to struggle to cross even 150. He really applied himself, understood the state of the pitch, and then used the pace of the bowlers to tee off. 85 glorious runs.

Starc is struggling to finish the over, having done something to his ankle.

Over 19, New Zealand 162-4, Neesham looks to end big

Neesham smacks a flat six to greet Cummins, but there’s a lot of mis-hits here and there. It seems to be getting difficult to hit across the line on this pitch. Puts the Williamson innings even more into perspective.

Over 18, New Zealand 149-4 – Williamson falls with 150 in sight

Update: I jinxed him, no? He’s walking back (sorry NZ fans). Tries to play another brazen stroke over cover, but can only hand the ball to Smith, who takes a juggling catch.

Williamson is in his zone. You can’t stop this man today. He’s brought out all kinds of whips and drives and slashes for the final.

Phillips is gone!

Tries to take on Hazlewood, but just doesn’t get enough. It’s Neesham time!

Over 14, NZ 144-2 – Cummins, Hazlewood look to slow things down

Cummins has been pretty good so far, keeping the lengths just short enough for the pitch to make it difficult for the batters to get enough power. Will Finch go back to Starc, or give the ball to Marsh?

Over 16, New Zealand 137-2 – Williamson into third gear

3-0-50-0 for Starc. Would you believe it… (Bring out annoyed Pakistan uncle GIF)

Starc must be feeling pretty annoyed today. Things really have not gone his way, and to top it, two edges have flown over short third-man. A full ball to follow, and Williamson clanks it over deep square leg. Clips of that shot will soon be doing the rounds.

Over 15, New Zealand 114-2 – Onus on Williamson, Phillips as Kiwis look for final thrust

Glenn Phillips’ being the perfect sidekick for Williamson so far, unafraid to take the attack back to Zampa. He ends with decent figures of 1-26, but would have been happier if there was another wicket next to his name.

Big fan of coincidences in cricket.

Seven overs to go. With the platform well set, can they reach the 170 mark from here?

Over 13, 97-2 – Williamson races past fifty in brisk assault

The Kiwis have been content with nudging Maxwell around for runs, without really taking him on. Williamson though has looked particularly interested in attacking in recent overs, and smacks back-to-back sixes off the off-spinner to get to his fifty. Quality knock.

Maxwell is actually back to bowl one more, which means we might not see Stoinis turning his arm over.

Guptill is gone!

And Guptill falls, exactly the way we predicted! Tries to take on Zampa, and it’s deep midwicket who does take the catch. An innings that started with so much promise ended up being dismal on the whole.

Over 11, NZ 76-1, Williamson takes charge as Guptill slows down

Starc is back, and he almost has a wicket! It’s Hazlewood who’s the culprit this time, making a meal of a catch that resulted from a Williamson’s pull-stroke and sending it to the ropes. Starc is not happy. To make matters worse, Williamson drills two more boundaries. That’s 19 very useful runs from that over.

Update: Given how they have slowed down, Guptill might be the one who tries to go after the bowling here. And it’s Zampa who could trap him in the process, especially by troubling him in the air. One mis-hit, and it’ll fall in deep midwicket’s hands. Will Guptill take the bait?

It’s been really slow from New Zealand so far. The number of dots could really hurt them.

Over 9, NZ 51-1 – Kane gets going

Okay, things have started to get going a bit, and it’s Mitchell Marsh who has given them a window. A couple of half-trackers that Williamson has no trouble whacking them away either side of the wicket.

Over 8, NZ 40-1 – Where’s the momentum gone?

Zampa has been such a difference for Australia this whole tournament, picking up at least a wicket every match (including a five-for). He’s further slowed them down, and the run-rate has dropped down to 5.0 now.

The Kiwis have really slowed down – they were 23-0 after three, and have added just 14 runs in the last four overs. One of these will have to get going.

Quick drinks break for the players. Maxwell is continuing now. I think the Guptill-Maxwell battle will be an intriguing one. Maxwell is a smart bowler – you go after him, and you risk losing your wicket with the field out. Anyway, it’s probably going to be his last over for the day.

Over 5, New Zealand 30-1 – Kiwis slow down after Mitchell’s departure

Australia have kept things tight since sending back Mitchell. Cummins has been brought on one end, and Hazlewood is back to bowl his third.

Last over of the powerplay. What’s going to be the approach?

Over 3.4, New Zealand 28-1 – Mitchell is gone!

The hero of the semi-final falls! A bit of a nothing shot from Mitchell, trying to fish at a delivery outside off. Wade latches on to this one, and Hazlewood has given them the breakthough.

It’s Kane time now. He’s in earlier than he would have liked though.

It’s been a simple pattern so far in Dubai.

Over 3, New Zealand 23-0, Wade drops Guptill!

Oh, he’s been dropped! Feathers one behind, but Wade failed to latch on to the inside edge. Big, big reprieve!

Maxwell in for some spin, and gets whacked for a six by Guptill straight up.

Over 2, New Zealand 13-0 – Guptill makes solid start

Hazlewood is in from the other side – he’s blown hot and cold this year: after 2-8 and 4-39, he conceded 0-49 against Pakistan in the last game. Guptill, by the way, is looking so good, using the depth of his crease to steer the ball on both sides of the square, and also getting a nice crunching sound off his strokes.

Over 1, New Zealand 9-0

Guptill looks in good nick already, twice using the wee bit of width provided by Starc to slash it past point. Mitchell, on the other hand, sedate to start with, as always. I’m backing him to play a big one tonight.

Mitchell Starc bowls, Guptill to face.

Australia have won the toss – given the trend so far, have they won the game? Among others, Yuvraj Singh thinks otherwise.

Right then, ladies and gentlemen. It’s time for the finale! The floating flags are being brought in by the mascots, and the anthems will be on very soon.

The players are back to practising, in front of what appears to be an astonishingly low audience for a World Cup final. The small crowd is scattered around, with plenty and plenty of empty seats. Oh well.

So, as expected, the injured Conway makes way for Seifert in the XI. No changes for Australia, who have now settled on what looks like the right XI for them.

Australia v New Zealand live, toss updates

New Zealand XI: Mitchell, Guptill, Williamson, Phillips, Seifert, Neesham, Santner, Milne, Southee, Sodhi, Boult

Australia XI: Finch, Warner, Marsh, Maxwell, Smith, Stonis, Wade, Cummins, Starc, Zampa, Hazlewood

Australia win the toss and opt to field.

We’re minutes away from the toss. The two captains are ready with the match referee.

As we get ready, there are reports of tremors in Dubai ahead of the final. The epicentre is said to have been in Iran.

We’re just about an hour and a half away from the start of the final. New Zealand players have already started warming up, while the Australia bunch is still waiting to be out.

T20 World Cup 2021 Australia v New Zealand live: Preview

T20 World Cup 2021 AUS v NZ: Team news and injury updates

Australia are unlikely to make any changes to their XI and tinker with a winning combination. They have no injury concerns.

T20 World Cup 2021 Australia: Full team list for AUS

New Zealand will be without Devon Conway for the final after he injured his hand during the semifinal. Tim Seifert is likely to replace him in the XI.

T20 World Cup 2021 New Zealand: Full team list for NZ

T20 World Cup 2021: Where to watch live

India: Star Sports Network; Disney+ Hotstar

UK & Ireland: Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Mix; Sky Sports app, www.skysports.com

New Zealand: Sky Sports 3, Skysportnow.co.nz, skygo.co.nz

Australia: Fox 503, Fox 505, Fox More +, Foxtel GO, Foxtel NOW, Kayo Sports
The complete list of broadcast (TV and live streaming) options for the tournament can be found here.

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