KARACHI: One of the most intense rivalries in the field of sports is that of the Trans-Tasman neighbours Australia and New Zealand. And the ICC Cricket World Cup is no exception. The Aussies generally have had the wood on their rivals in terms of results with seven victories in 10 head-to-head meetings.

It is surprising to note that these nations never came across against each other in the first three editions — which were hosted by England — before finally getting the opportunity in the subcontinent in 1987 when the Allan Border’s team of outsiders won Australia’s first global trophy. Subsequently, they confronted at the knockout phase in two World Cups where Australia ran out comfortable winners.

In the first of two round-robin games on Indian soil in 1987, Australia held off a gallant New Zealand side by just three runs on the reserve day in a rain-marred clash that was reduced to 30-over after the scheduled day one was washed out in Indore. David Boon, now an ICC match referee, starred with a 96-ball 87 in a total of 199-4.

Geoff Marsh dominated the return encounter at the Sector 16 Stadium in Chandigarh with an unconquered 149-ball knock of 128 to help Australia reach 251-8 in 50 overs; New Zealand fell 17 short of the target when they were dismissed for 234 in 48.4 overs.

The champions then suffered 37-run loss in the opening match of the 1992 World Cup as they were stunned by a classic 134-ball 100 from New Zealand captain Martin Crowe. Boon also made exactly 100 (133 balls) but it wasn’t enough as Gavin Larsen’s dibbly-dobbly seamers fetched him 3-30 while Australia mustered 211 in 48.1 overs.

Mark Taylor’s Australians stormed to a six-wicket triumph in the quarter-final of the 1996 tournament in Chennai with Mark Waugh scoring a 112-ball 110 as they reached 289-4 in 47.5 overs. Chris Harris excelled with a 124-ball 130 and rescued New Zealand from 44-3 to 286-9 while putting on 168 for the fourth wicket with captain Lee Germon (89).

The Steve Waugh-led side endured a shock five-wicket defeat in the pool match at Cardiff during their triumphant 1999 campaign as left-arm paceman Geoff Allott (4-37) curtailed them to 213-8, a tally that was surpassed by the Black Caps thanks to a stand of 148 after being 49-4. Their stars were Roger Twose (80) and Chris Cairns (60).

Fast bowler Shane Bond starred with brilliant figures of 6-23 in 10 overs in the Super Six tie of the 2003 competition at Port Elizabeth but his heroics were in vain as Australia, now led by Ricky Ponting, had speedster Brett Lee (5-42) to thank as New Zealand crashed to their lowest World Cup score of 112 in 30.1 overs in a 96-run defeat.

Australia were at their ruthless best on their way to a historic hat-trick of World Cup titles when they annihilated New Zealand by 215 runs in the Super Eight fixture of the 2007 event at St George’s. Matthew Hayden scored a 100-ball 103 as the holders amassed 348-6 before the Black Caps folded up for 133 in 25.5 overs.

Speedsters Mitchell Johnson (4-33) and Shaun Tait (3-35) were the architects of Australia’s seven-wicket victory with 96 deliveries to spare in the pool game of the 2011 World Cup at Nagpur where New Zealand managed 208 all out in 45.1 overs.

The co-hosts — and ultimate finalists — of the 2015 World Cup played out a low-scoring thriller in the group match at Auckland. Trent Boult (5-27 in 10 overs) triggered an extraordinary Australia batting debacle as Michael Clarke’s charges nosedived from 80-1 to 151 all out in 32.2 overs.

Mitchell Starc made the chase extremely tough with 6-28 despite New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum’s frenetic 24-ball came of 50 (seven fours and three sixes). But Kane Williamson remained ice-cool with 45 to see his team over the line at 152-9 in 23.1 overs.

And then came the final in Melbourne where a record turnout of 93,013 saw Australia outclass New Zealand by seven wickets. Despite Grant Elliott’s 82-ball 83, New Zealand only got 183 in 45 overs with the left-arm pace triumvirate of Johnson (3-30), James Faulkner (3-36) and Starc (2-20) being chief the destroyers.

Clarke (74 off 72 balls) and Steve Smith (56 not out) added 112 in less than 20 overs as they made 186-3 in 33.1 overs before the whole of Australia erupted in sheer joy for clinching the World Cup for the fifth time.

Head-to-head summary:

Oct 18-19, 1987 — Indore, Australia won by three runs

Oct 27, 1987 — Chandigarh, Australia won by 17 runs

Feb 22, 1992 — Auckland, New Zealand won by 37 runs

March 11, 1996 — Chennai, Australia won by six wickets

May 20, 1999 — Cardiff, New Zealand won by five wickets

March 11, 2003 — Port Elizabeth, Australia won by 96 runs

April 20, 2007 — St George’s, Australia won by 215 runs

Feb 25, 2011 — Nagpur, Australia won by seven wickets

Feb 28, 2015 — Auckland, New Zealand won by one wicket

March 29, 2015 — Melbourne, Australia won by seven wickets.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2019