How Australia beat New Zealand at the MCG

Here is a blow-by-blow account of the 2015 World Cup final, from the ground as it unfolded. (All times Melbourne local).

New Zealand innings

2:35pm Brendon McCullum is bowled for zero, third ball from Mitchell Starc. The MCG turns a golden hue.

2:44pm First boundary off the bat. Martin Guptill drives Starc between cover and point.

2:48pm First six, Guptill top-edges a pull shot off Josh Hazlewood over fine leg. Just.

2:53pm On his 12th ball faced, Kane Williamson gets off the mark when a thick outside edge flies over backward point for one.

3:12pm Williamson's first boundary, meeting a length ball from Hazlewood with a straight bat and punching it past mid-off.

3:20pm Glenn Maxwell strikes second ball. Guptill misses a cut and is bowled for 15. New Zealand 33 for 2.

3:23pm Ross Taylor drills his first ball, a full toss from Maxwell, for four through extra cover.

3:26pm Mitchell Johnson takes a simple caught-and-bowled offering from Williamson. A nothing shot. New Zealand 39 for 3 in 12.2 overs.

3:58pm Grant Elliott sweeps hard at Maxwell and misses. Kumar Dharmasena raises the finger. The decision is appealed immediately.

4:01pm Decision overturned. Not out. Kiwi fans cheer.

4:10pm Elliott top-edges Starc for six.

4:15pm The 50-run stand between Taylor and Elliott comes up to welcome cheer from Blackcaps supporters.

4:25pm Taylor edges Shane Watson past Brad Haddin for four. Oohs from the crowd. New Zealand 104 for 3 in 26.3 overs.

4:31pm Elliott reaches his fifty off 51 deliveries. A mistimed drive lands safely in front of long-off.

4:49pm Second drinks break. New Zealand 134 for 3 after 33 overs. Elliott and Taylor punch gloves.

4:53pm First ball after the drinks break, Elliott dabs Hazlewood over the vacant slips cordon for four. Up on the toes, opens the face of the bat late. Intentional, and very well played.

5:00pm New Zealand touch 150 as Elliott steers Watson perilously close to a diving Haddin, gets four.

5:02pm Taylor flashes at James Faulkner without moving his feet. Haddin collects the ball excellently with one hand falling to his right. The Australians appeal. The catch is referred to the third umpire. Two-and-a-half minutes later, Taylor is given out. The Australian fans erupt. New Zealand 150 for 4 in 35.1 overs. The batting Powerplay starts superbly for Australia.

5:07pm Faulkner bowls Corey Anderson second ball. Full on leg stump, Anderson late to jam it out. Eruption.

5:12pm Luke Ronchi swishes at the second ball of a new Starc spell and nicks to Michael Clarke at slip.

5:35pm Johnson returns and bowls Daniel Vettori for 9. New Zealand 167 for 7 in 41 overs.

5:39pm Elliott departs for 83 from 82 balls, edging Faulkner to Haddin. The ball is length, but slower. Elliott heaves and nicks. As he walks off, Faulkner spouts a welcome goodbye.

5:42pm Tim Southee clubs Johnson straight down the ground for six, first ball of the 43rd over.

5:53pm Johnson gets a third as Matt Henry slices a low full toss to cover-point.

5:55pm The tenth wicket goes. Southee run out for 11. New Zealand 183 all out in 45 overs.

Australia innings

6.48pm Trent Boult accepts the simplest of chances from Aaron Finch. His team-mates converge on him. Australia are 2 for 1.

6:59pm David Warner gets three consecutive fours off Boult: past mid-off, down the ground and an edge past slip.

7:16pm Matt Henry drags it short and Warner swivels to collect four wide of Anderson at fine leg, who misjudges the ball's trajectory.

7:28pm Warner, on 40, nearly drags a ball from Boult onto his stumps. A close shave.

7:32pm Warner, on 45, mistimes a pull shot off Henry and is well taken by a sliding Elliott running in from deep square leg. Australia 63 for 3 in 12.2 overs.

7:34pm Clarke takes guard for the final time in ODIs. He receives plenty of applause when he strides out swinging his bat.

7:41pm Steven Smith survives. An inside edge off Henry rolls onto the stumps but the bails remained undisturbed. Henry puts his hands on his head. The spectators inhale as one.

8:03pm Clarke slashes Henry over Ronchi and the slip cordon and then backward point for fours in consecutive deliveries of the 19th over. New Zealand shoulders slump. Henry, hands over eyes, looks crestfallen.

8:10pm Clarke dumps the luckless Henry down the ground for a one-bounce four. The noise is loud, very loud.

8:33pm Clarke is heartily applauded for getting to his half-century off 56 balls and in 60 minutes. Smith runs after him down the pitch and congratulates him. Clarke raises his bat to the fans. It is a poignant moment.

8:52pm Clarke cracks his fourth successive boundary off Southee. The fans roar.

8:55pm Not a 100 percent fairytale ending for Clarke, who is bowled for 74 off his 72nd ball faced. The bowler? Henry, with his first legal delivery of a new spell. Clarke walks off to thunderous applause, bat raised high.

8:59pm Smith pumps his fists after bringing up his fifty. Australia are four runs away from victory. In the dugout, the team is on its feet.

9:05pm The winning hit, the winning moment. Smith pulls Henry for four in front of square, celebrates madly. Throws his bat down, takes off his helmet and gloves, embraces Shane Watson. The Australian team invades the field, as one, cheering like giddy schoolboys. They unite. New Zealand are dejected. The fans clap and clap and clap. Australia have won the World Cup for a fifth time. Melbourne will celebrate tonight.