An Australian batting onslaught from David Warner and Mitchell Marsh has lifted Australia to their first-ever T20 Cricket World Cup, with an eight-wicket win over the Blackcaps at Dubai.
Chasing 173 for victory, Warner (53), and Marsh (77) plundered a match-winning 92-run partnership off 59 balls that was only broken, when Trent Boult bowled Warner trying to slog the left-armer out of the ground.
Earlier, captain Kane Williamson's 85 (48) set up New Zealand's 172/4, stroking 10 fours and three sixes, and taking particular liking to Mitchell Starc, whom he hit for four boundaries and a six off one over.
Sent into bat by Australian captain Aaron Finch, the Blackcaps made a steady start, with Martin Guptill (28) and Daryl Mitchell adding 35 in the first 23 balls, before the semi-final hero fell to Josh Hazlewood.
Mitchell nicked one through to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade that brought Williamson to the crease to join Guptill and the pair added 48 runs, before leg-spinner Adam Zampa struck in his third over.
Guptill looked to launch Zampa out of the ground, but could only find Stoinis inches from the deep mid-wicket boundary and the Blackcaps were 76/2.
But Williamson maintained the attack at the other end, bringing up his fifty with a slog-sweep six off Glenn Maxwell.
The fifty partnership was raised in 26 balls, as Williamson took 22 off Starc's third over to push New Zealand towards a highly competitive total, but the excellent Hazlewood (3/16) struck twice in the 18th over to peg New Zealand back.
The right-arm quick bowler removed Phillips (18), then Williamson three balls later and the Blackcaps were 148/4 with 12 balls remaining.
Jimmy Neesham (13) and Tim Seifert (8) added 24 for the final wicket, but may feel they left a few runs in the shed.
Australia lost Finch (5) in the third over, when the Australian skipper skied Boult to Mitchell, but Warner and Marsh quickly stamped their mark on the final.
Marsh hit a six and two fours from the first three balls he faced from Adam Milne to set the tone for what was to come.
In all, the powerful right-hander hit six fours and four sixes in a man-of-the-match 77 from 50 balls, while Warner was close to his best, with 53 from 38, with four fours and three sixes.
Marsh continued to take the attack to New Zealand, even after Boult's third over seemed to put the Blackcaps back in the game, when he removed Warner.
Still needing 64 from 44 balls and joined by Glenn Maxwell (28), Marsh found the rope or cleared it when needed.
Maxwell hit the winning runs off Tim Southee with a reverse lap to secure victory with an over in hand.
New Zealand 172/4 (Williamson 85, Guptill 28, Hazlewood 3/16) Australia 173/2 (Marsh 77no, Warner 53, Boult 2/18)
Australia win by eight wickets
