By Manoj Vatsyayana
Australian Shane Watson and New Zealand's Grant Elliott may not be among the Champions Trophy's superstar elite, but were second to none when it came to producing match-winning performances.
Watson, who failed to score in his first two matches, came back strongly with consecutive centuries which helped his team retain the trophy, while Elliott also delivered in crunch situations.
The Australian was named Man of the Match for his explosive career-best 136 not out in his team's crushing nine-wicket win over England in the semi-final at Centurion.
Watson was the tournament's second-highest scorer Watson again played a key role in his team's six-wicket win over injury-hit New Zealand in the final on Monday, hammering an unbeaten 105 to win a second consecutive Man of the Match award.
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He was the tournament's second-highest scorer after his skipper and Man of the Series Ricky Ponting (288) with 265 runs.
"I think people have now started to see the real Watson. He is showing everybody how good he can be," Ponting said after the final.
The South Africa-born Elliott proved he had it in him to upstage big names with his remarkable performances with both bat and ball. New Zealand required a win against England in their final league game on a lively Wanderers pitch in Johannesburg to make it to the semi-finals and were fortunate to find a match-winner in Elliott.
Elliott grabbed a career-best 4/31 off eight overs to restrict England to 146 before New Zealand completed a four-wicket victory.
Elliott braved a thumb injury to crack an unbeaten 75 He was also to excel with the bat in the semi-final against Pakistan at the Wanderers where he braved a thumb injury to crack an unbeaten 75 in his team's five-wicket win.
"Elliott was in doubt for the match, but managed to battle through with a broken thumb and played such an impressive innings," said New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori. "It was an innings of character.
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