Seahawks V Patriots – Super Bowl
America's biggest sporting spectacle lived up to its billing this year with last year's champions the Seattle Seahawks facing off against Tom Brady's New England Patriots.
The game was neck and neck for much of the match until the Pats appeared to crumble in the third quarter as the Seahawks went up by 10 with a quarter to go.
But never count out Brady who dragged the Pats back into the game, throwing two touchdowns to set up a tense finale.
With 20 seconds on the clock and the Seahawks three yards out, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson's pass was picked off and the Patriots went on to win.
With the Breakers on the comeback from a disappointing 2013/14 season, the stakes were high to reclaim their fourth title in five years.
With Cedric Jackson back at point guard, the Breakers reached the final against the Cairns Taipans, instead of usual foes the Perth Wildcats, but didn't have home advantage, meaning any Game 3 would be played on the road.
After winning Game 1, it all came down to an afternoon at the North Shore Events Centre with a win sealing the championship, and avoiding a dangerous Game 3 on the road.
After a bright start, the Taipans came roaring back and took a lead late in the third quarter, setting up a back-and-forth final period.
Finally, with the scores tied and 1.3 seconds on the clock, up stepped import Ekene Ibekwe for a mid-range jumper that swished through the net as the buzzer sounded. It was to be his final ever act in a Breakers jersey.
Black Caps V Australia – Cricket World Cup pool game
The first real test of the tournament for a resurgent Black Caps side, at Eden Park, on a blazing hot day was against one of their greatest foes and the co-hosts of the tournament. If it was anything other than amazing, it would have been a disappointment.
But the match certainly lived up to its billing in the first innings, for Black Caps fans at least.
Trent Boult and Dan Vettori ripped through the Australian order who could only manage 151 in 33 overs on a ground many were tipping for scores of 350.
A walkover was expected, New Zealand fans were jubilant and Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum appeared keen to end the game as quickly as possible.
But never count Australia out. Mitchell Starc stepped up for the Baggie Greens, and ripped through New Zealand setting up an incredible finale which saw Kane Williamson at the crease with Trent Boult, a wicket in hand, trailing by six runs. Oh, and only 24 overs had been played.
But as he's done so many times for New Zealand, Kane Williamson came to the rescue, bashing a six with the pressure on to win the game and prevent what would have been a remarkable choke job.
Black Caps V South Africa – Cricket World Cup semifinal
Quite different to the Black Caps game against Australia in the pool stages but it had just as much drama.
Neither team had been beyond the semi-final stages of a World Cup and a place in the final against Australia beckoned.
Eden Park was once again the stage but the weather wasn't turning it on like it did against Australia and led to a rain delay that really hiked up the pressure.
Lead by a strong middle-order showing which included 82 from Faf du Plessis and 65 by skipper AB de Villiers, New Zealand were set a rain-adjusted target of 298 to win from just 43 overs. It was game on.
Captain Brendon McCullum, who had come up big so many times already in the tournament, went about his swashbuckling ways scoring 59 runs in half an hour and the chase seemed well and truly on until a mini-collapse in the middle.
But up stepped the bolter in the New Zealand team, Grant Elliott who steadied the innings with Corey Anderson and guided New Zealand back to the brink of an unlikely victory.
Incredibly, it came down to the final over with Elliott and veteran Dan Vettori at the crease. What ensued was a dramatic over bowled by Dale Steyn that resulted in Elliott smashing a six over mid-wicket with a ball to spare to seal New Zealand's place in the final.
A day that will long be remembered in New Zealand sporting history.
Warriors V Cavaliers – NBA Finals Game 1
The Golden State Warriors are currently blowing through the league with ease after claiming their first title in 40 years earlier this year.
But LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers gave Stephen Curry and company a run for their money in the NBA Finals which kicked off with a bang in Game 1.
Threes were flying in a game that featured plenty of dunks and highlight plays, from Andre Iguodala's shoeless three-pointer to Kyrie Irving's game-saving block at the end of regular time.
But, despite a massive 44 points from James, the Warriors eked out the overtime victory after Cleveland point guard Irving went down with a broken knee-cap which ruled him out of the rest of the series.
The Warriors went on to win the series 4-2.
Djokovic V Federer – Wimbledon final
Novak Djokovic had a truly dominant year in 2015, but no other major title was more hotly contested than the Wimbledon final against veteran Roger Federer.
The Swiss maestro's standing in world tennis has waned in recent years, but Federer proved his brilliance with a vintage performance throughout the tournament, which lead him to a final against Djokovic.
But the Serbian proved too strong, dashing Federer's hopes of an eighth Wimbledon crown to retain his crown in a 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 win.
Hurricanes V Highlanders – Super Rugby final
It's been described as one of the greatest ever Super Rugby finals and the hunger was on display as both franchises were keen to claim their first Super Rugby title.
The Hurricanes headed into the game as favourites with the home crowd in behind them, but it was the plucky men from down south who managed to end years of Super Rugby irrelevance.
Tries either side of halftime to flanker Elliot Dixon, one of them a 50-50 call from the TMO, and wing Waisake Naholo proved the difference, along with defiant defence over the last half-hour as the Hurricanes threw everything into the pursuit of their first crown.
It was a gut-wrenching loss for the Hurricanes and their departing duo Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith, which becomes the only New Zealand Super Rugby franchise to have not won the competition.
Cowboys V Broncos – NRL Grand Final
Ben Hunt headed into the NRL Grand Final with comparisons to Brisbane great Allan Langer, but it was Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston that cemented his place in state folklore.
With the Broncos seemingly headed for the NRL title after a hard-fought contest, up popped Michael Morgan who's inside ball set up winger Kyle Feldt's try after the fulltime siren to lock up the scores at 16-16.
Thurston had the chance to win it with a conversion from the sideline but only managed to hit the post, clearly showing his frustration.
But Thurston made amends, slotting a drop-goal in the 82nd minute to clinch the win.
South Africa V Japan – Rugby World Cup group match
The Rugby World Cup group stages often feel like they drag on with the amount of one-sided results we see when established countries take on minnows.
With that in mind, Japan's game against the Springboks wasn't a match many neutrals would have pencilled into their calendar.
But not only was it one of the greatest contests, it ended up being the biggest result in world rugby and one of the biggest shocks in world sport after Japan clinched a 34-32 win over the Springboks with try after the hooter sounded.
All Blacks V Australia – Rugby World Cup final
We might be a little one-eyed with this selection, but just sit back, relax and relive these highlights.
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