Australia triumph at Indoor Cricket World Cup
Australia has continued its domination of the Indoor Cricket World Cup, with both the men's and women's sides claiming hard-fought wins in their respective grand finals in front of a sell-out crowd in Brisbane on Saturday.
The hosts have claimed every trophy on offer since the inception of the competition in 1995 and that record is still intact after the men gritted out a 11-run triumph over New Zealand in a low-scoring affair, and the women edged out South Africa by 24 runs.
Australia men picked up their seventh title in a row on the back of a tight bowling performance that restricted the trans-Tasman rivals to a total of 44, with Daniel McLauchlan snaring figures of four for negative-nine.
However a desperate New Zealand side, fresh from Friday's upset win over Australia in the major semi final, bowled with much gusto to see the home side stumble to a score of just 10 at the end of the 10th over.
The defending champion rebuilt its innings, thanks largely to a polished knock of 14 from Nick de Grys, but was still batting conservatively when it lurched to a score of 38 in the 14th over.
Captain Troy Gurski refused to let the game slip away though, top-scoring with a measured knock of 18 that iced the game.
Gurski, named player of the grand final at the closing ceremony, was lost for words after the gutsy win.
"There is nothing like winning a World Cup, it's hard to describe," Gurski said.
"The Kiwis stuck it to us the whole week?they stuck it to us in the semi and it was great to get one back on them in the final, the one that counted."
"It wasn't our best performance, but there is extra pressure in the final. It is a different set of circumstances and low scores are hard to chase."
"We were up and down, but when required we got over the line and it was amazing."
New Zealand captain Tim Papps praised his side's character.
"We couldn't quite finish off at the end there?but full credit to Troy and all of his boys, they played well for the full 32 overs so they deserve to come out victors," Papps said.
"We worked really hard?and we had them for a while there, but they just stuck away at it - that's Australia for you, they never die."
"We've worked hard and we'll bounce back for the next World Cup."
Australia has battled South Africa in the decider of every women's World Cup to date bar 2002, and the 2009 edition of the rivalry did not disappoint.
The hosts posted a competitive total of 120 on the back of slick knocks from captain Jude Coleman (20), Nicole Martin (22) and Rikki-Lee Rimmington (23).
The visitors, who inflicted Australia's first defeat in over two years in Friday's major semi final, started superbly in its chase and raced to be 55 after five overs on the back of Celeste Rennie's quarter-century.
The home side was then able to produce a stirring comeback, with Coleman claiming two wickets in the space of three balls to see South Africa slump to 47 after the seventh over.
There threatened to be another twist in the tale when Hilda Nienaber and Kirsten Blair looked to tee-off in the dying stages, but the South Africans eventually finished on 96, much to the delight of Coleman - who was later named player of the grand final.
"Those two that batted last are very good bats and can hit the back net when they want to, so for us it was just about being patient," Coleman said.
"It did go through my head for a minute that it might not be our time, there was a sick feeling in the stomach, but the experienced heads came through and it was an awesome feeling."
"It'll be a very, very good night."
South Africa captain Hanri Strydom was humble in defeat and believed Australia deserved the silverware after going through the group stages of the tournament undefeated.
"We were (right in the game), but at the end of the day they were the better team, they wanted it a little bit more than we did," Strydom said.
"We picked the wrong balls to hit instead of sticking to our basics."
"Well done to the Australian side, they've played consistently well throughout the whole tournament."
Australia, defending champion in every division, accomplished a clean sweep at the tournament, with the 16 & Under Boys, 19 & Under Boys and 19 & Under Girls all having comfortable wins in the morning.
The hosts also had plenty to smile about at the closing ceremony, with Melissa Mayers named player of the series in the women's division and Lyle Teske claiming the honour in the men's class.
Grand Final Results
16 & Under Boys
Australia 159 (3) defeated South Africa 73 (1)
Player of the Grand Final: Taylor Peach (AUS)
Player of the Series: Blake Anderson (AUS)
19 & Under Boys
Australia 125 (4) defeated New Zealand 35 (0)
Player of the Grand Final: Ben Marciante (AUS)
Player of the Series: Carl Dala (SAF)
19 & Under Girls
Australia 115 (4) defeated New Zealand 71 (0)
Player of the Grand Final: Claire Koski (AUS)
Player of the Series: Emily Marriott (ENG)
Open Women
Australia 120 (3) defeated South Africa 96 (1)
Player of the Grand Final: Jude Coleman (AUS)
Player of the Series: Melissa MAYERS (AUS)
Open Men
Australia 55 (3) defeated New Zealand 44 (1)
Player of the Grand Final: Troy Gurski (AUS)
Player of the Series: Lyle Teske (AUS)
For more information on the tournament, click here