Australia made a comfortable chase of New Zealand’s target and although the first ten overs told a different story before Australia successfully defended the ICC Champions Trophy final title, in 2009.
South Africa played host to a first time double champion of the ICC Champions Trophy 2009. Unfortunately the win had to come at the cost of New Zealand at Centurion.
Many considered the absence of Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain who pulled up with a hamstring, as a major hindrance to New Zealand’s chances and one would have to say, perhaps very much so.
Although New Zealand began their defense of the meagre total of 200 well with Shane Bond and Kyle Mills in a terrific display of accurate, miserly display, there was no bowler thereafter to back up the sterling efforts of the duo.
New Zealand managed to seize early control as a stunned Tim Paine walked back to the pavilion, the under dogs also managed to do what critics stated would be absolutely critical – get rid of the Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, early. That they did, but they perhaps forgot about the other man in form in the Australian line up.
Centuries from Ponting and Shane Watson had given Australia an invincible ascendancy over England in the ICC Champions Trophy semi final. Once again Watson wasted no time establishing his authority once the spell of Bond and Mills gave way.
Runs that had trickled at less than even two in over in the first Powerplay suddenly flowed with greater ease and with it, eased Australia’s jitters that could have magnified if New Zealand managed to snare a couple more wickets.
But Watson found solid ground with Cameron White who is fast becoming an integral part of the Australian outfit, at least in the shorter versions of the game, and vying even for the post of Australia’s Twenty20 captain.
The 128 run partnership for the third wicket and White’s sixty-two runs were perhaps, under the circumstances of the final, just as crucial as giving Watson the freedom to play with authority from the other end. The partnership took the game away from New Zealand that failed to not only stem the runs but pick up a few more wickets which would have been the only way to undo the rampant Australians.
When White did depart, there was little trouble and with James Hopes, aka Mr. Fix It, Australia coasted in fine fashion. In a bid not to miss out on his second successive century in the tournament, Watson slammed two sixes off what turned out to be the final two balls of the innings as Australia lifted the ICC Champions Trophy again in 2009 with nearly five overs to spare!
CT Final: New Zealand Whimper in Setting Target
Allegations of Pakistan’s Ball Tampering Resurface
Pictures of a Crest Fallen Pakistan
CT Semi Final 2: New Zealand, Elliot Score Past Pakistan
CT Semi Final 1: England Succumb to Ponting, Watson Centuries
CT Eng v Aus Half Time: England Resurrected; But Is It Enough to Hurt Australia?
South Africa Searching for Answers, Specialists, Hypnotists Perhaps?
Bresnan Blows His Top Lid, Flower Seals it Shut
Ravi Shastri Vents Ire on Indian Selectors
CT Semi Final 1 Fifteen Overs: Australia Have the Mark on England
Akram Makes it to Hall of Fame, But Shame for Dhoni
WC Grace: Latest Entrant to ICC’s Hall of Fame!
Strauss Slams Smith, Applauds Vettori
ICC Champions Trophy Semi Finals Face Off!
CT India Beat WI, But Was Anyone Interested?
India’s fortunes Mistimed: Sachin Out!
CT Pak v Aus: Aussie-Pak Thriller Denies India Even a Slim Chance
CT NZ v Eng: New Zealand Stampede England for Semi Final spot
CT Ind v Aus Rain Break: Game Gone With the Wind, Really!
Cheerleaders Of Another Encounter
Super Sunday Turns to Sorrow Day for SA Cricket, ICC Champions Trophy
CT Eng v SL: Hosts Out of Tournament But Not Because of Smith
CT Ind V Aus Preview: Dhoni Resigned to Losing Toss
CT Eng v SA: South Africa Have to Climb Higher To Get to Table Mountain
CT NZ V SL Full Time: New Zealand Complete Day’s Heroics
CT SL V NZ Half Time: Injured Ryder Raises Team; NZ Win Could make it Interesting
CT Ind V Pak Full Time: India Lose Grip, Pakistan Have Their Revenge
CT Ind V Pak Half Time: Mallik Century Takes Pakistan to Strong Total
CT Aus v WI Full Time: West Indies Nearly Run Australia Out
CT Aus V WI Half Time: Johnson Destroys Windies’ Effort
CT Ind V Pak Preview: Pak Win Toss, Elect to Bat First
CT Eng v SL Full Time: Collingwood Answers Critics with Match Winning Effort
CT New Zealand news: Oram Out, Franklin Called in
CT Ind v Pak: A Rare Clash on the Cards, What Do the Cards Foretell?
CT AUS v WI Preview: Bracken , Clarke Out, Ponting Worries for Future
Champions League Twenty20 Schedule
Champions League Twenty20: Teams Line Up For Feast
CT Eng v SL Half Time: England Bowlers Batter Sri Lanka
Kirsten Says Not Me, It was Paddy Upton
CT Sa V NZ Full Time: AB de Villiers Steers SA to Points Table
CT SA v NZ: Parnell, Van Der Merwe Peg New Zealand Progress
South African Murmurs About Centurion
CT PAK v WI Full Time: WI Bowlers Put Pak Under Duress
Yuvraj, Younis: Broken Fingers Across Borders
CT PAK v WI Half Time: Pak Bowlers Enjoy Workout
Kirsten’s Mantra for India: Sex!
India Have Yuvraj Singh on Serious Injury List
ICC Champions Trophy Points Table and News in the Run Up
CT PAK v WI Preview: Shahid’s Moment to Shine
CT SA v SL Full Time: Hosts Suffer Shock Defeat
CT SA v SL Half Time: Hosts Face Stiff Target
CT SA v SL Preview: SA Want Good Start, Despite Losing Gibbs
Rahul Slams Preparations, Defies Fears After Loss
CT Teams Group B-South Africa Want it More Than Any One Else
