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Awesome Aussies skittle New Zealand for 183

Three of New Zealand’s biggest hitters fell for ducks as Australia took a stranglehold on the World Cup final in front of the biggest crowd to watch a game of cricket in this country.

New Zealand were held to 183 after Brendon McCullum (three balls), Corey Anderson (two) and Luke Ronchi (four) all departed without scoring as the Black Caps were pummelled by Australia’s pace power.

It is the same total India defended in the 1983 final against the West Indies.

If not for Grant Elliott, the hero of New Zealand’s nailbiting semifinal win over South Africa, the score would have been even more dire as the previously undefeated Black Caps lost 7-33 in 10 overs.

Elliott was the mainstay of a century partnership with Ross Taylor and hit out at the end before falling for 83.

He is the only player to get to 80 in both the semi and final of the same World Cup.

More than 91,000 people packed into the MCG with the official figure to exceed the 91,112 who saw the first day of the last Ashes Test at the ground in 2013.

Elliott’s workmanlike innings kept his team in the contest after the Australian pace attack shredded the rest of his team’s top order and James Faulkner sliced through the middle.

New Zealand were rocked by the demolition of their top order after deciding to bat first in the biggest match played by their country.

Then Faulkner claimed wickets with two of the first three balls of the batting powerplay to end Taylor’s innings, well caught by Brad Haddin, and york the muscular Anderson.

Ronchi thrashed a thick edge to slip in Starc’s first over back while Elliott soon gave Faulkner a third wicket when edged behind attempting a big hit at the end.

McCullum could have been out first or second ball but succumbed to his third and fifth of the match when Mitchell Starc speared a trademark inswinger through the gate.

The first over dismissal mirrored the 2003 final when India’s danger man Sachin Tendulkar only lasted to the fifth ball of the innings.

Martin Guptill was bowled by Glenn Maxwell’s innocuous second delivery while Kane Williamson chipped a simple return catch to Mitch Johnson.

The three blows left New Zealand 3-39 in the 13th over and the prospect of the final being over almost before it started.

Australia’s tactics were clear with just 10 runs being scored in front of the wicket during the first powerplay.

The ball swing briefly but the paceman concentrated on forcing the New Zealand batsmen onto the back foot with only the occasional full delivery.

Maxwell was introduced in the 12th over and had immediate success.

He also thought he had Elliott at 15 when his prolonged lbw appeal was finally answered by umpire Kumar Dharmasena only for the review to show the ball was missing leg stump by a considerable distance.

The decision prompted a lengthy slanging match between the two batsmen and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.