Faulkner saves his best for last

Two months after fearing his World Cup campaign could have been over, James Faulkner has produced his best performance of the campaign to claim man-of-the-match honours in the tournament decider.

The allrounder admitted to fearing the worst on February 1, less than two weeks before the World Cup began, when he suffered a side complaint at the WACA Ground in the Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series final.

Faulkner was unavailable for Australia's first three matches of the tournament, including the washed out game against Bangladesh, and returned for the clash against Afghanistan on March 4.

Not only did Faulkner find fitness and form, he delivered arguably the most important spell of his career in Sunday's final at the MCG.

The left-armer dismissed New Zealand's Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson in the space of three deliveries and then removed top-scorer Grant Elliott for 83 as part of a late-order collapse that saw seven wickets fall for just 33 runs.

Faulkner takes three as NZ are bowled out for 183

Mitchell Johnson also snared three scalps, while outgoing ODI captain Michael Clarke top scored for the hosts with 74 as they cruised to victory by seven wickets.

Report & highlights: Australia win fifth World Cup title

But it was Faulkner, renowned for his clinical ability to finish games with the bat, who was named man-of-the-match.

"Definitely. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a moment when I didn't think I'd be here today," Faulkner said of the injury he suffered eight weeks ago.

"Thankfully the physio staff looked after me."

The 24-year-old played down his feats with the ball in Sunday's title decider; he finished with 3-36 from nine overs, including a double-wicket maiden in the first over of the powerplay.

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Faulkner is mobbed by his teammates // Getty

"I get tossed the ball when the skipper wants me to bowl and usually it's in the powerplay," Faulkner said.

"Today it worked out well.

"We all brought our A-game today.

"It's been an amazing couple of years as an Australian one-day outfit."

Faulkner finished the tournament with 10 wickets at 19 with an economy rate of 4.70 runs an over, and posted scores of 7, 0, 16 not out and 21 in his limited opportunities with the bat.