Black Caps victorious in World Cup epic

Australia's horror World Cup collapse against New Zealand could have been a case of nerves on the big stage, according to fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.

Australia lost 8-26 as a Trent Boult-inspired Black Caps ran through Australia's middle order in Auckland on Saturday after an early run-feast.

Australia were 1-80 when Shane Watson pulled Daniel Vettori straight to deep square leg. David Warner followed next ball to an lbw decision upheld by the narrowest of margins on review and the middle order then folded.

Steve Smith edged Vettori behind before Boult began his carnage. Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh both chopped deliveries on to their stumps, Michael Clarke pushed a catch to short cover and Johnson did the same.

When Mitchell Starc lost his middle stump to an inswinging yorker to complete Boult's five-wicket haul, Australia were 9-106 with just 22 overs gone.

"I think we trained really well, to be honest," Johnson told the 2UE program Sports Today on Monday night.

"I just think we were probably a little bit nervous through that middle period.

"We trained and we knew what to expect. We knew the ball was going to swing there.

"We knew what to expect – we just didn't play our game when we got out there in the middle.

"I think the moment probably got a bit big for us."

After that performance with the bat, Australia were always going to struggle to win the match, but Mitchell Starc's six-wicket haul brought them within a whisker of a thrilling victory.

Starc's heroics came after Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum took to the Australian bowlers early, blasting his way to a 21-ball half-century, much of which came after he copped a painful blow on the left arm from a Johnson bouncer.

After Johnson overstepped and was hit for four on the first ball of Austrlaia's innings, and Black Caps opener Martin Guptill followed up by sending the subsequent free-hit over the fence – 11 runs from the first legal delivery set the tone.

But it was McCullum that did the bulk of the damage to Johnson's figures with 34 runs coming from 13 balls.

"He's a great player," Johnson said of McCullum.

"He took me apart, I haven't been belted like that for a long while."

McCullum reached his milestone by taking 14 runs off three Johnson deliveries as Australia's spearhead saw his first five overs carted for 68 runs.