Live coverage has concluded, please click here for the full wrap.
NZ 172/4, 20 overs - Williamson 85
AUS 173/2, 18.5 overs - Marsh 77* Maxwell 28*
Australia win by eight wickets
6:29am
Well, that's cricket isn't it.
Australia were too good on the day. Two fantastic innings from David Warner and Mitchell Marsh has seen them home with eight wickets and seven balls to spare.
It's a familiar hurt for the Blackcaps, losing another final having played so well to get there - but this team is built of sterner stuff.
That concludes our live coverage, thank you for joining us this morning, and throughout the tournament.
Don't fret though, we'll be back in a few days to cover the Blackcaps' series against India, starting later this week.
6:23am - AUSTRALIA WIN BY EIGHT WICKETS
Southee to bowl his last.
18.1 - Short ball, Marsh pulls straight down the ground and evades a diving Neesham to go for four.
18.2 - Short, Marsh pulls out to midwicket and gets a single. Six to win, they can end it with one hit.
18.3 - Maxwell pulls down to wide long-on for another single.
18.4 - Marsh clubs one more down to Neesham at wide long-off.
18.5 - That's it. Maxwell reverse sweeps Southee to third man for four. Australia win by eight wickets.
AUS 173/2
6:18am - 18 overs
Milne to bowl his last.
17.1 - Length to Marsh, swing and miss.
17.2 - Marsh drives down to long-off for one.
17.3 - Length ball, Maxwell can't catch up with it.
17.4 - Clubbed to cover, where the ball drops just short of Southee.
17.5 - Full toss, and Maxwell whips it down to fine leg for one.
17.6 - Marsh drives down to long-off for one.
AUS 162/2
6:13am - 17 overs
Boult back to bowl his last.
16.1 - Marsh drives straight down the ground for two runs.
16.2 - Short, and Marsh clubs four more out to midwicket.
16.3 - Full, Marsh drives to cover for one more.
16.4 - Slower bouncer, Maxwell leaves it through to Seifert.
16.5 - Boult goes down leg, wide called. That's the 50 partnership between these two.
16.5 - Maxwell squeezes a single behind point.
16.6 - Dropped! Boult's last ball, and Marsh chips it straight back to him! Boult can't hang on. Sums up NZ's night.
AUS 159/2
6:08am - 16 overs
Australia need 37 runs. The Blackcaps need a miracle. Southee comes back.
15.1 - Four. Maxwell backs away, and pulls, getting a bottom edge down to fine leg for four. It's all going Australia's way.
15.2 - Southee sends one down leg. Maxwell backs away and looks to pull but misses. Wide called.
15.2 - SIX! Short from Southee, Maxwell pulls six over fine leg. Australia's equation is less than a run a ball needed.
15.3 - Short again. Maxwell gets one to fine leg.
15.4 - Southee cramps Marsh for room, hits him high on the pads. No run.
15.5 - Hits the pads again, this time they get a leg bye.
15.6 - Short, and Maxwell cuts straight into the ground. No run.
AUS 149/2
6:02am - 15 overs
Milne comes back. Bowling to Marsh. In desperate need of a wicket.
14.1 - Full and straight to start, Marsh defends.
14.2 - Chance! Bouncer from Milne, and Marsh pulls - but it drops just short of Mitchell on the fence! One run.
14.3 - Maxwell on strike. Milne goes short, and Maxwell pulls. He doesn't time it perfectly, but he's got the placement perfect, and gets four.
14.4 - Short again. Maxwell pulls and gets a top edge over Seifert for four more.
14.5 - Slower bouncer, beats Maxwell all up. No run.
14.6 - Slower bouncer again. Called wide.
14.6 - Bouncer, beats Maxwell, but they get a single off the bat.
AUS 136/2
5:57am - 14 overs
Sodhi comes back. Bowling to Marsh.
13.1 - And he starts with a wide.
13.1 - SIX! Marsh sends Sodhi over long-on, and that's his 50.
13.2 - Short from Sodhi, Marsh pulls out to wide long-on, where Guptill saves a boundary, they get back for two.
13.3 - Rank long hop from Sodhi. Marsh pulls a one-handed four out to wide-long on.
13.4 - Wide. Sodhi goes outside off and Marsh takes the extra.
13.4 - Good comeback. Quicker ball that Marsh cuts into the ground.
13.5 - Wide. Sodhi sends down his third wide of the over.
13.5 - Sodhi tosses it up, Marsh drives straight to cover. No run.
13.6 - Marsh cuts to point for a single.
AUS 125/2
5:51am - 13 overs
Boult comes back, needing a wicket.
12.1 - Marsh drives and beats Guptill at short cover to get a single.
12.2 - WICKET! There it is! Warner swipes across the line, gets beaten and loses his stumps! Warner goes for 53, Glenn Maxwell comes in at No.4.
12.3 - Short at Maxwell to start, play and miss.
12.4 - Short again. Maxwell pulls straight into the ground. No run.
12.5 - Back of a length, Maxwell drives out to point for one to get off the mark.
12.6 - Full, and Marsh drives down to long-on for one.
AUS 109/2
5:46am - 12 overs
Santner carries on after drinks. Bowling to Marsh.
11.1 - Cuts and beats Guptill, and they run one out to deep cover.
11.2 - Warner pulls and gets one to deep backward square.
11.3 - Is that a catch? No! Marsh pulls, and the ball drops just short of Phillips on the fence. They get one run. That's Australia's 100 up.
11.4 - Warner's beaten by turn, but gets a leg bye to short fine leg.
11.5 - Short again, and Marsh pulls four through midwicket.
11.6 - Slow and wide fron Santner, and Marsh pulls one more down to long-on.
AUS 106/1
5:41am - 11 overs
We're at the halfway stage of the run chase. Australia need 91 runs from 60 balls. The Blackcaps need wicket, fast.
Neesham comes into the attack. Marsh on strike.
10.1 - SIX! Short to start from Neesham, and Marsh hooks him over fine leg for six more!
10.2 - Marsh drives to cover, no run.
10.3 - Short again, Marsh pulls out to Mitchell at deep square leg.
10.4 - SIX! Warner clears wide long-on, and gets to his 50 from 32 balls. This is too easy for Australia at the moment.
10.5 - Short, Warner gets up on his toes and clips to midwicket for one.
10.6 - Marsh drives to deep point for one to finish the over.
AUS 97/1
5:34am - 10 overs
Santner continues, bowling to Marsh.
9.1 - Marsh cuts one out to deep point.
9.2 - Warner drags the ball out to wide long-on, and the batters get back for two.
9.3 - Quicker ball, Warner dabs it to vacant mid-on and gets one.
9.4 - Flight from Santner, swing and miss from Marsh.
9.5 - Marsh drives to cover, no run.
9.6 - Short, and Marsh cuts to the cover sweeper for a single. That's drinks.
AUS 82/1
5:30am - 9 overs
Sodhi continues.
8.1 - Starts on off-stump, Marsh cuts with the spin out to deep point for one.
8.2 - Short, and Warner someshow shovels it straight down to long-on for four! That's the 50 partnership between these two.
8.3 - Warner switch-hits, and gets two out to deep point.
8.4 - Warner runs at Sodhi, and cramps himself for room. The ball balloons up but evades Seifert. Not sure what that came off.
8.5 - Short again, Warner pulls and beats a diving Milne at deep square leg. Four more.
8.6 - SIX! And goes even better to finish the over! Warner clubs six more over long-off.
AUS 77/1
5:25am - 8 overs
Santner comes into the attack, spin from both ends to Warner. Could be dangerous.
7.1 - Warner uses his feet before Santner releases, and gets one to point.
7.2 - SIX! Santner bowls one in the slot, and Marsh swings over square leg for six more!
7.3 - Quicker from Santner, and Marsh goes back to turn him to square leg for one.
7.4 - Warner goes back and clips Santner out to wide long-on for one more.
7.5 - Turn from Santner! Marsh plays and misses outside his off-stump.
7.6 - Straight to finish, and Marsh pushes it down to long-on for one.
AUS 60/1
5:21am - 7 overs
Sodhi comes into the attack, bowling to Warner. This could be the game.
6.1 - Warner tucks the first ball of Sodhi's spell into midwicket and gets one.
6.2 - Quicker ball to Marsh, who goes back and drives to long-on for one.
6.3 - Short, and Warner clubs the ball down to wide long-on. They run back for two.
6.4 - Flatter from Sodhi, and Warner goes back to work a single out to wide long-on.
6.5 - Marsh drives out to the cover sweeper for one more.
6.6 - Again, Warner tucks Sodhi to the leg side, and that brings up Australia's 50.
AUS 50/1
5:17 - 6 overs
Milne stays on.
5.1 - Leg bye to Warner.
5.2 - Marsh gets a leg bye now.
5.3 - Short ball cramps Warner for room, no run.
5.4 - Bouncer. Warner sways out of the way.
5.5 - Warner cuts and beats point to get a single out to the man on the fence on the off-side.
5.6 - Full, straigh, fast. Marsh defends to end the powerplay.
AUS 43/1
5:13am - 5 overs
Southee changes ends, bowling to Marsh.
4.1 - On the hip, and Marsh works to square leg for one.
4.2 - Warner on strike. Short ball, Warner edges onto his back leg and gets a single.
4.3 - Length ball from Southee, Marsh defends on the back foot. No run.
4.4 - Fuller from Southee, and Marsh tucks one to midwicket.
4.5 - SIX! Slower ball from Southee, Warner reads it and sends it over midwicket for a huge six!
4.6 - Short, and Warner cuts out to the off-side sweeper for one.
AUS 40/1
5:09am - 4 overs
Adam Milne into the attack. Marsh to face.
3.1 - SIX! What a start from Marsh! Quick from Milne, and Marsh swings him over square leg for six from his first ball.
3.2 - Outside edge, and Marsh gets four down to third man.
3.3 - Four more! Milne goes short, and Marsh hangs back to pull another boundary through midwicket.
3.4 - Marsh drives to cover for one.
3.5 - Warner on strike. He punches to Guptill at cover. No run.
3.6 - Warner looks to steer through point, can't beat Phillips. No run.
AUS 30/1
5:04am - 3 overs
Boult continues, Finch on strike.
2.1 - Short from Boult, Finch cuts straight to point.
2.2 - Four! Finch uses his feet to Boult and hits him back over his head for four over mid-off.
2.3 - WICKET! Good comeback! Another short ball has Finch on the pull, and Mitchell runs around to take a brilliant catch at deep square leg. Finch goes for five. Mitchell Marsh is in at No.3.
2.4 - Warner on strike after the wicket. He defends a ball on the stumps.
2.5 - Short, and Warner pulls straight into the ground, no run.
2.6 - Warner defends the last ball of the over to point. No run.
AUS 15/1
5:00am - 2 overs
Southee takes the ball from the other end. Warner on strike. False start as Warner backs away mid delivery from Southee. "Sorry, Tim," says Warner.
1.1 - Short, Warner pulls in the air but it doesn't carry to Milne at mid-on. No run.
1.2 - Southee pitches up, and Warner goes over cover for four! Australia's first boundary.
1.3 - Warner cuts over backward point, and he gets four more!
1.4 - Good comeback from Southee. Warner defends back to the bowler.
1.5 - Warner tucks a short ball off his hip out to square leg for one.
1.6 - Finch on strike. He pushes at a length ball, and gets an inside edge to square leg for one.
AUS 11/0
4:55am - 1 over
Boult to Warner. Can he get any swing with the new ball?
0.1 - Short to start. Warner cuts straight to point. No run.
0.2 - Boult attacks off-stump. Warner gets no timing into the leg-side. No run.
0.3 - A bit of shape, and Warner gets an outside edge down to Sodhi at third man for a single.
0.4 - Finch takes guard. Batting a long way out of his crease. He drives to mid-off for no run.
0.5 - Short ball, Finch looks to pull but misses.
0.6 - Boult smashes Finch's front pad, and screams in appeal! The umpire says not out, Finch is a long way down the wicket. Williamson doesn't refer.
AUS 1/0
4:49am
Australia's opening pair make their way to the middle. Williamson rallies his troops.
This is going to be a classic. Boult will open the bowling for the Blackcaps. David Warner takes strike for Australia.
4:44am
There are no words to describe how good Kane Williamson is. His 85 will see Australia chase a target of 173 runs for victory.
The Australian bowlers showed what you can do on this surface, so now it's down to the Kiwi bowlers to see this one out.
Stay tuned for Australia's run chase.
4:41am - 20 overs
Last over. Mitchell Starc returns. His three overs have gone for 50 so far. A run a ball gets NZ up to 170.
19.1 - Yorker, and Seifert clips it off his toes through square leg for four!
19.2 - Wide yorker. Seifert plays and misses. No run.
19.3 - Wide yorker again. Seifert slices it to third man for one.
19.4 - Neesham on strike. Length ball from Starc, and Neesham swings and misses. No run.
19.5 - Slight delay, as Starc needs new shoes. Wide down leg, and Seifert runs through for a bye, two runs to the total.
19.5 - Around the wicket to Seifert. Full on middle stump, Seifert clips out to midwicket, for a single.
19.6 - Final ball of the innings. Low full toss, and Neesham clubs it down to long off, and they get back for two. Great running.
NZ 172/4
4:33am - 19 overs
Cummins to bowl his last. Neesham on strike.
18.1 - Neesham cuts and gets a single to deep point to bring up NZ's 150.
18.2 - Seifert to face his first. Short to start, and Seifert goes back and cuts to point for one.
18.3 - SIX! Neesham stands tall, and flat bats Cummins back over his head for six!
18.4 - Slower ball, and Neesham pulls to midwicket for one.
18.5 - Slower bouncer, Seifert looks to go over cover but mistimes it. He gets one to cover.
18.6 - Slower bouncer going across Neesham, who leaves it. Wide called.
18.6 - Neesham pulls, and they look for two. Maxwell fields brilliantly out on the boundary, and Wade breaks the stumps! Has Neesham got back? He has! Two runs to the total.
NZ 164/4
4:28am - 18 overs
Hazlewood comes back to bowl his last.
17.1 - Phillips switches his grip to reverse-lap, but misses.
17.2 - WICKET! Phillips pulls out towards the midwicket boundary, but he hasn't got it! Maxwell takes the catch to send Phillips back for 18. Jimmy Neesham is promoted up to No.5.
17.3 - Williamson on strike after the wicket. And he gets four! Williamson goes down on one knee and scoops over fine leg for four! That was the shot he got out to against England.
17.4 - Wide from Hazlewood. Williamson looks to cut, but misses. Knuckle ball from Hazlewood.
17.5 - WICKET! Williamson falls! He runs down the track and smashes the ball down to long-off, but he doesn't get it clean. Steve Smith hardly has to move to take the catch. Williamson goes for a brilliant 85, and he gets a standing ovation. Tim Seifert is the new batter.
17.6 - Neesham to face after the wicket. He tucks one to short fine leg to get off the mark.
NZ 149/4
4:21am - 17 overs
Starc's last over went for 22 runs. Cummins to continue to Phillips.
16.1 - Wide to start, Phillips swings and misses. Wide called.
16.1 - Short, and Phillips pulls down to wide long-on for a single.
16.2 - Slower ball, Williamson gets no timing as he looks to cut, but beats Cummins' follow through for one.
16.3 - Slower ball again, Phillips pulls out to square leg for one.
16.4 - Williamson cuts and gets a bottom edge, and Phillips calls him through for one.
16.5 - Slower bouncer, Phillips pulls down to fine leg for one.
16.6 - Williamson pulls out to deep square leg, and they get back for two.
NZ 144/2
4:16am - 16 overs
The Blackcaps have doubled their score from the 10th over. Five overs to go. Starc comes back, on a warning after his beamer to Williamson.
15.1 - Full, and Williamson gets an outside edge down to the vacant third man boundary for four!
15.2 - Four more! Full again from Starc, and Williamson has a huge swipe across the line. He gets a top edge, that sails to third man for another boundary.
15.3 - SIX! Williamson gets all of this! He walks to off-stump, and whips Starc over square leg for six! That's the 50 partnership between Williamson and Phillips.
15.4 - Starc comes around the wicket and bowls wide to Williamson, who can't reach it.
15.5 - Four more! Williamson lofts the ball over backward point, and he gets it perfectly for four!
15.6 - And another! Williamson late cuts perfectly, and gets another four down to third man - this one deliberate.
NZ 136/2
4:10am - 15 overs
Zampa changes ends for his last over.
14.1 - SIX! And Phillips starts the over with six! He sends Zampa over long-off for his first six.
14.2 - Play and miss from Phillips, and Wade comes out with a huge appeal? Umpire says no.
14.3 - Phillips gets one into the leg side.
14.4 - Williamson gets one to wide long-on.
14.5 - Four! Phillips lofts Zampa over cover for another boundary!
14.6 - Phillips looks to defend into leg, but plays so late that he can't get any power in the shot. No run.
NZ 114/2
4:05am - 14 overs
Pat Cummins comes back. Phillips on strike.
13.1 - Full and straight to start, and Phillips drives down to mid-off. No run.
13.2 - Slower ball from Cummins. Phillips drives and can't beat cover.
13.3 - Short, and Phillips cuts to deep point for a single.
13.4 - Williamson steers a single to deep point.
13.5 - Phillips advances at a slower ball, and he's hit on the body. They run a leg bye to bring up the NZ 100.
13.6 - Williamson gets up on his toes and scoops the ball over cover for two.
NZ 102/2
4:00am - 13 overs
Maxwell comes back for his third over. Around the wicket to Williamson.
12.1 - Williamson plays across the line, and he's hit on the back pad. Maxwell appeals, and they run a leg bye. Finch runs out of time for the referral.
12.2 - Phillips on strike. He whips one out to midwicket for a single.
12.3 - SIX! Have that! Williamson uses his feet, and smacks a one-handed six over cow corner! Shot!
12.4 - SIX! Slog sweep from Williamson, and that's six more! That's 50 for Williamson too!
12.5 - Full toss from Maxwell, and Williamson misses it completely. So does Wade, so Phillips runs a bye.
12.6 - Short to finish, and Phillips cuts to deep point for a single.
NZ 97/2
3:56am - 12 overs
Stoinis looks like he hurt himself fielding that last ball. Zampa stays on for another over.
11.1 - WICKET! Guptill goes! He looks to slog-sweep Zampa over cow corner, but he hits it straight to Stoinis on the boundary! Guptill goes for 28. Glenn Phillips is the next batter.
11.2 - Williamson on strike after the wicket. He defends to backward point. No run.
11.3 - Williamson shoves the ball out to wide long-on for one.
11.4 - Phillips to face his first ball. He tucks the ball off his hip for a single to deep backward square.
11.5 - Short, and Williamson pulls out to deep backward square for two more.
11.6 - Williamson pushes the last ball out to deep point for another single.
NZ 81/2
3:50am - 11 overs
Starc comes back to bowl after drinks. Around the wicket to Williamson.
10.1 - Williamson whips one to midwicket for one.
10.2 - Guptill drives to deep cover for another single.
10.3 - Williamson drives out to the cover boundary, and they get back for two.
10.4 - Dropped! Williamson walks across his stumps, and flicks Starc towards fine leg. Hazlewood doesn't have to move as the ball comes straight to him, but he drops it - and parries it for four!
10.5 - Four more! Williamson drives straight, and gets four down to long-off.
10.6 - Beamer! Huge full toss from Starc, and Williamson's that good that he manages to pull it for four to cow corner! No ball called, free hit coming up.
10.6 - Williamson carves the ball out to deep point, and they get back for two after some good fielding from Stoinis.
NZ 76/1
3:42am - 10 overs
Williamson goes through the concussion protocols, but he looks fine to carry on. Zampa continues.
9.1 - Short, and Guptill pulls a single to midwicket.
9.2 - Williamson goes back and punches one to wide mid-on.
9.3 - Guptill drives off the back foot and gets a single down to cover.
9.4 - Williamson drives to deep point for one.
9.5 - Guptill drives to deep point for one.
9.6 - Williamson uses his feet and drives to cover for a single. That's drinks.
NZ 57/1
3:39am - 9 overs
Mitchell Marsh comes into the attack. The Blackcaps are going to need to up their aggression soon.
8.1 - Guptill drives to the deep cover boundary for one.
8.2 - Williamson punches down to long-off for a single.
8.3 - Short, and Guptill pulls with no timing for a single to wide long-on.
8.4 - Williamson uses his feet, and lofts Marsh over cover for four! Shot.
8.5 - Four more! Marsh goes short, and Williamson rocks back to pull him for a boundary to midwicket. That's the 50 up for NZ.
8.6 - Ouch. Williamson advances to a bouncer, and he's hit on the grill. No run.
NZ 51/1
3:34am - 8 overs
Adam Zampa comes into the attack, Australia's best bowler of the World Cup.
7.1 - Guptill drives to long-off for one.
7.2 - Short, wide, and Williamson cuts out to deep point for a single.
7.3 - Guptill defends to cover. No run.
7.4 - Short, Guptill punches off the back foot, but doesn't beat cover.
7.5 - Quicker ball, and Guptill punches to deep point for one.
7.6 - Williamson drives back to the bowler. No run.
NZ 40/1
3:30am - 7 overs
That's the end of the powerplay. Maxwell comes back into the attack.
6.1 - Guptill drives down to wide long-on for one.
6.2 - Williamson pushes down to long-on for one.
6.3 - Guptill defends back to the bowler. No run.
6.4 - Guptill drives out to deep point. One run.
6.5 - Williamson tucks one down to wide long-on for one more.
6.6 - Guptill pushes down to long-on for a single to end the over.
NZ 37/1
3:27am - 6 overs
Hazlewood continues.
5.1 - Squares Williamson up, outside edge to short third man. No run.
5.2 - Back of a length, Williamson looks to pull but there's no timing. No run.
5.3 - Williamson drives to cover, no run.
5.4 - Williamson defends into off, but can't get a run.
5.5 - Williamson drives to cover again, but doesn't beat the fielder. This is great bowling.
5.6 - Short from Hazlewood, and Williamson pulls out to the midwicket boundary for two.
NZ 32/1
3:23am - 5 overs
Pat Cummins comes into the attack. Guptill on strike.
4.1 - Starts on off-stump, Guptill steers to short third man. No run.
4.2 - Stays on off-stump, and Guptill defends to point.
4.3 - Straighter from Cummins. Guptill turns the ball into leg but can't take a run.
4.4 - Straight again, and Guptill turns it to square leg for a single.
4.5 - Williamson on strike, and he turns one to midwicket for one to get off the mark.
4.6 - Guptill's squared up, and the ball takes the outside edge along the ground to short third man. No run.
NZ 30/1
3:18am - 4 overs
Hazlewood carries on. Guptill on strike.
3.1 - Shot! Back of a length from Hazlewood, and Guptill stands tall to punch through point for four!
3.2 - On leg stump from Hazlewood, and Guptill tucks to midwicket for one.
3.3 - Mitchell to face Hazlewood. Drives to cover, no run.
3.4 - Same ball, and Mitchell crunches it straight to the fielder again.
3.5 - WICKET! Slower ball from Hazlewood, and Mitchell edges behind to Wade, who takes the catch diving forward. Mitchell goes for 11, Kane Williamson replaces him.
3.6 - Williamson takes guard, one ball to come. Drives to backward point. No run.
NZ 28/1
3:13am - 3 overs
Bowling change already. Glenn Maxwell into the attack, coming around the wicket to Mitchell.
2.1 - SIX! Good start! Mitchell lofts high, long and straight, and gets the first six of the final!
2.2 - Straighter from Maxwell, and Mitchell turns to midwicket for one.
2.3 - Guptill to face, he cuts and gets an inside edge, but Wade drops it!
2.4 - Guptill gets one to mid-on.
2.5 - Mitchell turns one out towards backward square for one more.
2.6 - On the pads, that beats Guptill, but Mitchell runs through for a leg bye.
NZ 23/0
3:09am - 2 overs
Hazlewood takes the ball from the other end. Guptill on strike.
1.1 - Starts on Guptill's hip, he defends to leg. No run.
1.2 - Straight from Hazlewood, back of a length. Guptill defends and can't steal a run.
1.3 - On the hip again, Guptill works to midwicket, but can't beat the fielder. No run.
1.4 - Back of a length again, Guptill punches to cover. No run.
1.5 - Short, and Guptill pulls very fine that beats the fielder at fine leg to get four.
1.6 - Hazlewood attacks the stumps, Guptill defends, no run.
NZ 13/0
3:05am - 1 over
Both teams, as they've done for the whole tournament, take the knee for Black Lives Matter.
And now we're ready to get underway. Starc to Guptill.
0.1 - Wide across Guptill to start, no swing. Guptill leaves it alone through to Wade.
0.2 - Short, wide and Guptill cuts for four! Guptill checks the toe of his bat, that rocketed to the fence, and he didn't even get it all!
0.3 - Wide again from Starc, and Guptill steers to third man for one more. No swing so far.
0.4 - Mitchell to face. Full, and Mitchell drives to mid-on. No run.
0.5 - Mitchell advances, and glances the ball down towards deep backward square leg. They get back for three runs.
0.6 - Guptill faces again. He gets an outside edge down to third man for one more.
NZ 9/0
3:00am
Guptill takes guard to face first, Mitchell Starc has the ball for Australia.
2:59am
The anthems are done, Australia make their way out to the centre. As do Guptill and Mitchell.
Mitchell is out on the field very quick, and has to wait for Guptill to catch up.
2:54am
The officials make their way out to the middle, soon to be followed by the teams.
And right on cue, the teams walk out side by side. We'll have the anthems, and then we're on.
2:38am
Moral victory for Australia already. Only once in a T20 World Cup final has the team that won the toss not gone on to win, coming back in 2009.
Even though he'd have also bowled first, Kane Williamson says that the Blackcaps don't mind having a bat first up.
And I tell you what, the pitch actually looks good. There's not a lot of grass on the pitch, which could be gold for Santner and Sodhi in the second innings.
Time will tell...
2:35am
Both teams are as expected. Seifert comes in for Conway for the Blackcaps. Australia are unchanged.
NZ: 1-Martin Guptill, 2-Daryl Mitchell, 3-Kane Williamson (c), 4-Glenn Phillips, 5-Tim Seifert (wk), 6-Jimmy Neesham, 7-Mitchell Santner, 8-Adam Milne, 9-Tim Southee, 10-Ish Sodhi, 11-Trent Boult.
Australia: 1-David Warner, 2-Aaron Finch (c), 3-Mitchell Marsh, 4-Steve Smith, 5-Glenn Maxwell, 6-Marcus Stoinis, 7-Matthew Wade (wk), 8-Pat Cummins, 9-Mitchell Starc, 10-Adam Zampa, 11-Josh Hazlewood.
2:33am
Right then! Both captains out in the middle, Aaron Finch to call, Williamson to flip.
Finch calls heads, and it's heads! Australia win the toss and will bowl first!
We'll have the final XIs for you shortly.
2:30am
Not far away from the all-important toss now. The winning captain will almost certainly look to bowl first, with defending runs notoriously difficult in these conditions once the evening dew sets in.
2:09am
It's worth noting that Dubai has sold nearly all of the tickets for this morning's clash - however it's yet to be seen whether or not those had been snapped up by UAE based India and Pakistan supporters.
The crowd are slowly trickling into the stadium, we'll know soon enough.
2:00am
Good morning (or good evening if you've not been to sleep yet) and thank you for joining us at this hour!
Here we are then, the Twenty20 World Cup final. It's been a rollercoaster of a tournament so far, with the Blackcaps and Australia making it to the final.
Neither side were fancied to make it this far, ranked fourth and sixth in the world respectively, but the trophy will be decided in a trans-Tasman affair.
We'll have the toss for you in about half an hour. Stay tuned!
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Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Twenty20 World Cup final between the Blackcaps and Australia at Dubai.
Whatever happens this morning, a new name will appear on the T20 World Cup trophy.
Neither New Zealand nor Australia have ever lifted the shortest format's greatest prize, with a trans-Tasman clash to decide the 2021 winner.
The Blackcaps have already confounded the form book this tournament by eliminating favourites India and England, and won't fear an Australian team they defeated 3-2 on home soil earlier this year.
But the Blackcaps will miss one of their key performers in Devon Conway, missing with a broken hand suffered in their semi-final win over England. Wicketkeeper Tim Seifert will come into the side in his place.
Australia have ploughed away as darkhorses at this year's tournament and advanced to the final with a stunning upset over previously unbeaten Pakistan.
Aaron Finch's side are only the world's sixth-ranked T20 side - New Zealand are fourth - but if there's one thing Australia know how to do, it's win big games.
While the Blackcaps have never appeared in a T20 World Cup final, this is Australia's second attempt at lifting the trophy, after losing to England in the West Indies 11 years ago.
New Zealand have met Australia twice in world event finals, losing both the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy in 2009 and the 2015 Cricket World Cup - here's hoping the third time's a charm.
TAB odds: New Zealand $2.15, Australia $1.65
Teams (predicted):
NZ: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Blackcaps unfazed by 'underdog' tag in T20 World Cup final v Australia
The Blackcaps aren't bothered about whether or not they've got the "underdog" tag, heading into Monday's Twenty20 World Cup final against Australia.
Despite consistent performances on the world stage in recent years, the Blackcaps are rarely acknowledged as the world class outfit that they are.
Often operating in the shadows of world cricket's supposed "big three" of Australia, England and India, the Blackcaps are more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the game's heavyweights - reflected by their recent success.
Since reaching their maiden World Cup final in 2015, the Blackcaps have also made the semi-final of the 2016 T20 World Cup, the final of the 2019 World Cup, as well as the 2021 World Test Championship - that they won.
Across all forms of the game, the Blackcaps are by far and away the most consistent side in the world at present, ranked at No. 1 in both tests and ODIs, and could add the T20 World Cup to their collection as well.
But with cricket's elite decided by which teams have the most money rather than those that produce the best results, the Blackcaps naturally enter these tournaments as outsiders, resulting in Australia being the bookies' favourites for Monday's clash.
For the team itself though, those labels of underdog and favourite play no part in how they go about things.
Already, the Blackcaps have sent the two pre-tournament favourites, England and India, home early, and will be quietly confident of coming up triumphant against Australia in Dubai.
"You hear all the outside noise and whatnot, but as a group we just try to stay pretty level," seamer Tim Southee says.
"We don't beat ourselves up if we lose a game. If you look at the first game, against Pakistan, we weren't too far off. We didn't try and reinvent the wheel.
"We knew we had to make small adjustments and improve in certain areas, and we've sort of done that throughout the tournament.
"One of the strengths of this side is to stay level in everything we do. We've definitely been a lot more consistent in world events especially."
Awaiting the Blackcaps at the last hurdle though will be trans-Tasman nemesis Australia.
In two world event finals so far, the 2009 Champions Trophy and 2015 World Cup, the Blackcaps boast a 0-2 losing record against Australia.
This time around though, the Blackcaps have recent form on their side - winning their last T20 series 3-2 against Australia earlier in 2021.
And for Southee, the recent memory of that series win stands as reason to be confident in a final and a format where anything can happen.
"Australia have been a very strong side for a long time," he adds. "We haven't played them in a final since 2015.
"But we beat them - I know that they weren't at full strength - in a T20 series not so long ago, in New Zealand.
"We haven't played a lot in recent times, but that series in New Zealand where we came out on top was great to be a part of.
"We know they're a dangerous side, but it's a final. Anything can happen.
"Two good sides going at it, so hopefully we can just come in and do what we've been doing for the last few weeks."
