Australia were crowned the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy winner after Shane Watson’s unbeaten century guided the defending champions to a six-wicket victory over a depleted New Zealand in the low-scoring final match. And by this Australia have have become the first team to win the ICC Champions Trophy title twice, beating New Zealand by six wickets in the final at SuperSport Park in Centurion, South Africa. Shane Watson, who started the tournament with three consecutive ducks, smacked an unbeaten century when he shared a 128-run partnership with Cameron White (62) and finished the game in style with consecutive sixes off spinner Jeetan Patel.
An undefeated 105 for Shane Watson and a dropped catch saw Australia retain the ICC Champions Trophy when they beat New Zealand by six wickets in the final at Supersport Park. Australia had a huge fight on their hands at 2-6 against some inspired Kiwi bowling, but Watson again kept a cool head to steer Australia (4-206) side past New Zealand’s 9-200.
Watson (105 not out) hit successive sixes off spinner Jeetan Patel to score the winning runs – with 28 balls remaining – and reach three figures in style.
After Australia’s early wickets, Watson and Cameron White (62) restored order with a partnership of 128, and despite wickets to Kyle Mills (3-27), the world champions were never in trouble.
Australia’s victory created history, as they are now the only nation to have won this event twice, following their triumph in India three years ago.
Ponting was delighted his side had earned reward for their hard work since the Ashes defeat in England, and satisfied with such an emphatic showing.
Although it was a convincing victory, New Zealand put up a dogged fight and at times, it even appeared that their dreams of victory might come true. New Zealand had elected to bat first and found themselves in early trouble when McCullum was caught behind off Peter Siddle for a 14-ball duck.
Aaron Redmond (26) and Martin Guptill (40) added 61 for the second wicket, but New Zealand were in a sticky situation once again when they slumped to 94 for five in the 27th over.
Neil Broom, with a career-best 37, and James Franklin (33) put on 65 as the Kiwis resolutely batted out their 50 overs.
New Zealand suffered a major blow before the start of the match when their charismatic captain Daniel Vettori – man of the match in the semi-final against Pakistan – had to withdraw because of a torn hamstring. He was the fourth major player in the New Zealand squad to suffer an injury, after Jacob Oram, Daryl Tuffey and Jesse Ryder.
The Kiwis lost skipper and spinner Daniel Vettori to a hamstring injury an hour before the game began, and then acting skipper Brendon McCullum – the side’s most destructive batsman – fell for a duck in the fourth over, to Peter Siddle as they struggled to build a competitive total.
Ricky Ponting was named Player of the Tournament as well as receiving the Golden Bat award, while South Africa’s Wayne Parnell won the Golden Ball for the best bowler of the tournament.
