Michael Clarke's One-Day International career got a fairy-tale ending as the Australia Captain scored 74 in his side's ICC Cricket World Cup Final victory over New Zealand.
The 33-year-old ushered in retirement with his 50th ODI victory as captain on the loftiest possible stage after the Black Caps were bowled out in 45 overs for 183.
A brisk 45 from David Warner set the platform before Clarke shared a century third wicket stand with Steve Smith which all but secured Australia's fifth World Cup triumph.
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat at the MCG, getting off to the worst possible start when Mitchell Starc bowled Brendon McCullum for a duck with the the fourth ball of the match.
Martin Guptill top-edged Starc for six to overtake Kumar Sangakkara's tally of 541 and become the leading run scorer in the tournament, only for Glenn Maxwell to maximise an early introduction by sliding his second delivery past the in-form opener's outside-edge and into off-stump.
The next over saw Kane Williamson lob a return catch to Mitchell Johnson to depart for 12, leaving the Kiwis 39-3 in the 13th over.
Grant Elliott earned an early reprieve on referral after being given out lbw to Maxwell before becoming the aggressor in a century stand alongside Ross Taylor for the Kiwis' fourth wicket.
The 36-year-old hooked Starc for six on his way to becoming the fifth player in history to score fifties in the semi-final and final of a World Cup.
The landmark took him 51 balls with three fours and a six, but he could only watch helplessly from the non-strikers end as the onset of the batting powerplay proved to be the undoing of the New Zealand middle-order.
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin dived full length to pouch Taylor off a James Faulkner slower-ball for 40. The Australia all-rounder then clean bowled Corey Anderson for a second ball duck.
Luke Ronchi nicked Starc to slip off the second ball of the following over, meaning New Zealand were 151-6 with over 13 overs still to go and having lost three wickets for one run.
The collapse continued when Daniel Vettori was bowled by Johnson for nine and Elliott was finally deceived by a Faulkner slower-ball, caught behind for 83, as the Australia all-rounder finished with figures of 3-36.
Matt Henry didn't trouble the scorers before handing Johnson his third wicket by lobbing the ball to Starc in the covers - and the innings was closed on 45 overs when Maxwell's direct hit ran out Tim Southee for 11.
Chasing 184 for victory, the hosts made a shaky start as Aaron Finch was caught and bowled by Boult for a duck, only for David Warner to promptly settle the nerves with a timely flurry of boundaries.
The burly left-hander had advanced to 45 off 46 balls by the time he was caught, off Henry, to a top-edged pull on the square-leg boundary.
In a World Cup so often dominated by big hitters, it was a pair of classical accumulators that took centre-stage during the home straight of the tournament finale as Clarke and Smith embarked on their match-winning stand of 112 in 18.5 overs.
Clarke was circumspect during the initial exchanges, before easing serenely through the gears and marking his farewell One-Day International appearance with a half-century in 56 balls with five fours and a lofted straight six off fellow retiree Daniel Vettori.
Eleven runs were required when Clarke played on to Henry for 74, off 72 balls with ten fours and a six, and left the field to a rapturous reception at the MCG.
Smith played a supporting role and passed 50, for the fifth innings in succession, in 66 deliveries with two boundaries before capturing the glory of striking the winning runs with 16.5 overs to spare.
View the full match scorecard here
Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to watch England seek redemption against the Kiwis and secure your seat now.