An emotional Michael Clarke dedicated Australia’s unprecedented fifth World Cup triumph to his former team-mate and friend Phillip Hughes after his side trounced New Zealand in the final at Melbourne. Clarke – who joins Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting (twice) in the pantheon of Australia’s World Cup-winning captains – scored a classy 74 in 72 balls in his final one-day international before quitting the format to focus on Tests. And with Australia overhauling the New Zealanders’ disappointing total of 183 with seven wickets and nearly 17 overs to spare, he went out in style, watched by an MCG crowd of 93,013 – an official world record for a single day’s cricket. Michael Clarke kisses the World Cup after guiding his team to glory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground . The Australia side celebrate after defeating New Zealand to be crowned Cricket World Cup champions . Clarke celebrates with his wife Kyly and the trophy in the Australian dressing room . Referring to the black armband he wore in memory of Hughes, who died in November after being struck on the neck by a short-pitched delivery during a domestic game in Sydney, Clarke said: ‘As you can see it's got PH on it. I’ll wear it every game I play for Australia. For everyone in Australian cricket it’s been a tough few months. ‘We played this World Cup with 16 players and this is certainly dedicated to our little brother and team-mate Phillip Hughes. Hughesy used to party as good as any of them, so I’ll make sure we drink two at a time – one for Hughesy and one for us. 'Hughes used to party as good as any of them so I'll make sure we drink two (beers) at a time tonight, one for Hughesy and one for us.' Hughes would have approved of the manner in which Australia crushed their trans-Tasman cousins, even if the neutrals were deprived of the climax which the tournament – if it’s honest with itself – so badly needed. From the moment Mitchell Starc bowled New Zealand’s captain and talisman Brendon McCullum in the game’s first over, a sense of inevitability descended on the MCG like the evening shadows. Here were the pre-tournament favourites doling out a painful lesson to a team taking part in their first World Cup final. The Australian captain receives a kiss from his wife Kyly after winning the World Cup . Kevin Pietersen didn't do his hopes of an England recall any good by posing with James Faulkner . The one-way traffic was held up only during a gutsy fourth-wicket stand of 111 between Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott, New Zealand’s hero during their semi-final thriller against South Africa. But James Faulkner, named man of the match for figures of 3 for 36, removed Taylor and the big-hitting Corey Anderson in the first over of the batting powerplay, and wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi fell in the next, to the outstanding Starc. Elliott went on to make 83, but New Zealand’s last seven fell for just 33 in 10 overs. After eight successive games on their smaller, less intimidating, home grounds, they never came to terms with either the occasion or the relentlessness of the Australian attack. The dismissal of Martin Guptill, who had hammered West Indies for an unbeaten 237 from 163 balls in the quarter-finals, summed up their day: trying to dab a gentle off-break from Glenn Maxwell through backward point, he was bowled for 15. Australia lost Aaron Finch to Trent Boult in the second over of the reply, but for New Zealand’s bowlers that was as good as it got. David Warner hit 45 in 46 balls, before Clarke joined Steve Smith – his heir apparent – to add 112. After carting Tim Southee for four successive fours, Clarke chopped on against Matt Henry with nine runs still needed, but Smith was there at the end, a fifth successive half-century in his increasingly irresistible bag. Clarke received a standing ovation as he left the field having been dismissed in his final one-day international . The Australian captain scored 74 from 72 deliveries to anchor his team's chase of 184 . Clarke said: 'We're really proud, it's a wonderful achievement. It's a great thing just to make a World Cup final, but to be able to win in your own back yard in front of your family and friends is extremely special and I guarantee we'll celebrate hard tonight. 'Obviously I'm over the moon. What a tournament. 'The New Zealand team deserve a lot of credit . They're always a tough team to beat it seems in any sporting event. Australia v New Zealand is always an exciting contest and tonight was no different.' 'It's been an honour and a privilege to represent my country in both Test and one-day cricket and Twenty20 cricket. 'The time is right for me to walk away from one-day cricket, but I'll keep playing Test cricket.' Clarke poses with the World Cup trophy after Australia's fourth success in the last five editions . Clarke dedicated the victory to Phillip Hughes, who died after being hit on the side of the head by a bouncer . As Australia prepared to celebrate into the night and beyond, it was left to McCullum to confirm his status as one of the World Cup’s most impressive characters. He said: 'It's been one hell of a ride for us right the way through. I think we've played some outstanding cricket and we ran into an outstanding Australia team tonight who continue to set the way in international cricket and full credit to them, they deserve to be champions. 'Michael Clarke as well, he deserves to bow out a World Cup-winning champion too. They were outstanding in this World Cup and thoroughly deserved to win. 'We were the second-best team on the day and all credit to Australia.' McCullum took time to reflect on the tournament as a whole and said he was 'proud' of his team's performances as they became the first New Zealand side to reach a World Cup final. He added: 'We've forged some memories and friendships that will last forever. New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum admitted his side were second best on the day . 'Obviously we're not able to lift the trophy but the brand of cricket and the entertainment that we've been able to give people throughout our country and throughout the world is something we're immensely proud of. 'We have no regrets and we walk away from this tournament with our heads held high. 'It's the greatest time of your life to be able to represent your country on the international stage with a group of friends and then put your skills against the world's best - it is the greatest time of our lives and that's how we tried to play the game, play with a free spirit and plenty of heart all the way along. 'It's taken us so far in this tournament but we weren't obviously able to get over the final hurdle, but it's something that I'm immensely proud of, all the guys in the team, all the management group and all those that have been part of this team over the last few years and helped build us into what we are. 'We've still got some work to do but we can be very proud of our achievements in this tournament.'
Australia win Cricket World Cup after beating New Zealand in final . Australia chase down 184 to win by seven wickets in Melbourne . Michael Clarke received a standing ovation when he left the field . Australian captain was playing in his final one-day international . Clarke dedicated the win to his former team-mate Phillip Hughes .