Melbourne--Dominant New Zealand will have no fear of the enemy's den as they take on co-hosts Australia in an intriguing World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Brendon McCullum's men go into their first title clash in cricket's 50-overs-a-side showpiece as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, having won eight games in a row.
One of those wins was against Australia in a low-scoring pool stage thriller in Auckland on February 28 when a Kane Williamson six off Pat Cummins helped them surpass a modest target of 152 with one wicket standing.
It was at the same Eden Park in Auckland that the Black Caps downed South Africa in a nerve-tingling semi-final on Tuesday with a penultimate-ball six by Grant Elliott.
New Zealand's first semi-final win in seven attempts left an enthralled rugby-mad nation backing their cricketers to take home a trophy that has always eluded them in the event's 40-year history.
Australia, the top-ranked side in one-day cricket bidding for a fifth title, will be considered favourites on home turf at the MCG where New Zealand last played a one-dayer in 2009.
Australian captain Michael Clarke said the Black Caps may struggle to adjust to conditions at the MCG after playing all their eight matches so far on their own grounds across the Tasman Sea.
"Conditions are a lot different to what New Zealand have been playing in New Zealand," Clarke said after his team's emphatic 95-run semi-final victory over defending champions India in Sydney on Thursday.
"But we will have to play our best cricket to win. New Zealand have been the form team of the competition and they certainly deserve to be in the final.
"There is always that great rivalry between Australia and New Zealand and the fact that the two hosting nations are in the final is extremely special."
AFP
