Opener Watson and Cameron White shared a remarkable 128-run stand to steady the Australia innings after the favourites lost Tim Paine and Ricky Ponting in the first three overs of their reply to Kiwis\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s modest total.
Shane Bond struck with his second ball to jolt Australia, a delivery that swung away from Time Paine, who chased it and edged low to the right of Ross Taylor at first slip. Skipper Ricky Ponting was then locked lbw in the third over to a ball from Kyle Mills that came back in. Mills showed commanding control in his opening spell, beating the bat on numerous occasions and having a loud appeal for caught-behind against Cameron White – which was turned down by umpire Aleem Dar with Australia still struggling for runs. The seamer conceded just nine from his first seven overs.
In a meanwhile Aussies were struggling, had a major escape when White was on 15 and wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum dropped a simplest chance behind the stumps, after getting a top edge to a short ball from Ian Butler. Thereafter Australia never looked back and White along with Watson continued to flourish as both completed their fifties with full confidence.
Despite the early wriggle, Watson - who scored 136 not out in the semi-final win over England, showed great temperament before hitting successive sixes off spinner Jeetan Patel to end the match and finish on 105 not out.
New Zealand without having Daniel Vetttori in their line-up opted to bat first to give a shaky start as stand-in captain Brendon McCullum – who survived two scary appeals in the very first over of the day by Brett Lee followed by an alarming maiden over by Peter Siddle.
It was the worst start by the Kiwis as McCullum fall off a nasty bouncer by Siddle, obligated the batsman for a big one but only managed a thick edge back to wicket-keeper Tim Paine for a 12-ball duck. An early damage jolts New Zealand severely which pushed Kiwis batsman back foot as they were limbering at 22 with one wicket down in ten overs – the lowest total in the tournament within span.
Martin Guptill and Aaron Redmond shared a 61-run partnership for the second wicket before Redmond was stumped for 26 off the third ball of Nathan Hauritz\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s second over, charging down the wicket to the off spinner, beaten by a wild spin. Redmond was the next man departed - pushed a return catch to Hauritz for 40 in the 22nd over. With a space of five, Ross Taylor fell for six, drove heavily off Mitchell Johnson but an outstanding caught in the gully by Mike Hussey. Brett Lee then trapped man in form Grant Elliott lbw before he played a brisk cameo of 9-run off 9 balls.
Neil Broom, James Franklin thereafter began a repair work and steadied New Zealand innings, added 65 runs for the New Zealand 6th wicket stand before a mix-up in middle proved expensive as a sharp throw by Mike Hussay from point ran out Broom for 37 off 62 balls. New Zealand further lost three more wickets before Jeetan Patel smacked 16 off 19 balls to help his side to reach 200 mark on the board and remained unbeaten with Shane Bond who was patient with 3 off 9 balls.
