T20 World Cup final: New Zealand will not spare Australia this time, says Peter Fulton | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former New Zealand cricketer Peter Fulton feels the high-octane T20 World Cup final between Trans-Tasman rivals – New Zealand and Australia – will be a close game and could very well go down to the wire. Fulton though has picked New Zealand as favourites to win the title.
“It is going to be a pretty close game. New Zealand played Australia in a five-match series earlier this year and they won 3-2. I think it will be a very close game. New Zealand will win. It will come down to the last couple of overs. The team which will have a little bit of luck, will probably win the match. I see New Zealand winning the title this time. They won’t spare Australia this time,” Fulton told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview from New Zealand.
Whichever team wins tonight, we will have a first time champion.

Image credit: T20 World Cup’s Twitter handle
Australia have won a record five ODI World Cup titles, but have so far not been able to get their hands on a World T20 trophy. On the other hand, New Zealand have never won a limited overs World Cup title. They recently won the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship, beating India in the final.

ANI Photo
This will be Australia’s ninth World Cup final overall (including ODIs and T20Is) – the most by any team. New Zealand, who have been consistent with their performances, have reached the final of a World Cup event twice – the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups, but they lost on both occasions. They lost to Australia in 2015 and to England on the now scrapped boundary countback rule in 2019.
Fulton is confident that the Kane Williamson-led side will come out all guns blazing this time around.
“We lost the final in 2015 and 2019. We then won the Test championship and now the T20 World Cup final is here. New Zealand will be favourites to win the title. They have been really at their best in the last three years. They are one of the best sides in the world. They are consistent in all three formats. Some world-class players and talented players are in the squad. We saw how Daryl Mitchell took the side home in the semifinals against England,” Fulton, who played 23 Tests, 49 ODIs, and 12 T20Is for New Zealand between 2004 and 2014, further told TimesofIndia.com.

Image credit: T20 World Cup’s Twitter handle
“New Zealand and Australia have a very big rivalry. It should be a very exciting match. Australia have got talented and star players in their side. I am really looking forward to this exciting game,” the former cricketer added.

(Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Going into the all-important clash, New Zealand suffered a big blow as their in-form wicket-keeper batsman Devon Conway, who scored a 38-ball 46 in New Zealand’s semi-final win against England, was ruled out with a broken right hand. Conway sustained the injury when he punched his bat in frustration immediately after being dismissed by Liam Livingstone in the semi-final.
“Devon Conway being injured will be a very big blow for New Zealand. New Zealand are going to miss Conway badly in the final. Tim Seifert or Mark Chapman will replace him in the side. New Zealand will go with Glenn Phillips to keep the wickets. Conway has been a massive part of this team for the last one or two years and New Zealand will miss his services in the final,” Fulton signed off.