DUBAI: Australia and New Zealand will clash today (Sunday) in the final of the ICC’s Twenty20 World Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to lift the trophy for the first time.
The match will begin at 7pm PST.
Australia skipper Aaron Finch said his team came with a “clear plan” to win the World Cup and reaching the final against New Zealand came as no surprise to them.
The tournament showcasing cricket’s shortest format will witness a new winner in Dubai on Sunday after a clash between two teams that were not among the pre-competition favourites.
Australia made the semi-finals as the second-placed team behind England from their group but went on to beat Pakistan with a powerful performance in Thursday’s semi-final.
“Everyone had written us off, but we had a lot of confidence within. I think we came here with a really clear plan to win the tournament,” Finch told reporters.
“We always felt as though we’ve got the depth of the squad and the quality in our squad to put ourselves in a position to do that.”
He said: “No, it’s not unexpected.”
Finch praised the Black Caps who will be appearing in their third global final after winning the inaugural Test championship in June, two years after finishing runners-up in the 2019 50-over World Cup.
“And New Zealand, they have been in every final for a long time now in ICC events,” said Finch.
“They are a great team overall three formats of the game. They are a team that can never be under-estimated. But maybe people on the outside do.
“Certainly inside, we don’t. They have got firepower, they have got experience, they have got class. No, I’m not surprised one bit.”
Swashbuckling opener David Warner has led the team’s batting charge with 236 runs in six matches and along with Finch gets the runs flowing early for his team.
