In a thrilling showdown that will be remembered in cricket history, Travis Head’s rapid hundred outshone Rachin Ravindra’s gallant 116, leading Australia to a nail-biting victory against New Zealand in the highest-scoring World Cup match ever. Their battle unfolded at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Saturday, where Head’s 109 and a remarkable 175-run partnership with David Warner (81) set Australia on a commanding path to reach 388 all out.
The game’s pace intensified as Rachin spearheaded New Zealand’s spirited response, recording his second century of the tournament, while Daryl Mitchell added 54 runs to keep the 2019 runners-up in contention. In the 41st over, Rachin’s departure briefly shifted the momentum back to Australia. However, James Neesham’s tenacious 58 runs rekindled the excitement, and New Zealand remained tantalizingly close to their target at 383/9.
The match reached a climactic conclusion in the final over, as New Zealand required 19 runs to snatch victory from Australia. Milking 13 runs off the first four legitimate deliveries, they kept the pressure on. Yet, with a daring attempt to steal a second run, Neesham was run out on the fifth delivery, and Lockie Ferguson couldn’t find the required six off the final ball to secure a historic win for the Kiwis.
After the intense encounter, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins shared his excitement, stating, “That was awesome. Sometimes I have to remember I’m out in the field, not a spectator. A fantastic game, they kept coming at us.”
Travis Head, who missed Australia’s first five matches due to a fractured hand, delivered a stunning performance to make up for his absence, racing to a 25-ball fifty alongside Warner. Glenn Phillips managed to break their partnership by dismissing Warner, but Head continued his blistering form, reaching a 59-ball century. However, his explosive innings ended as Phillips breached his defenses.
Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis contributed breezy cameos, while skipper Pat Cummins added four sixes to his 37 off 14 balls. Nevertheless, Australia faced a late collapse just four balls shy of their innings.
New Zealand’s fielding was surprisingly sloppy, with five dropped catches, benefiting Head on two occasions. Devon Conway and Will Young had given New Zealand a rapid start, but Josh Hazlewood’s successive overs removed both key players. Rachin and Mitchell steadied the innings and, thanks to Rachin’s stellar century, New Zealand entered the final 10 overs confident of securing the 97 runs required for victory.
Pat Cummins’s crucial dismissal of Rachin in the 42nd over provided Australia a lifeline, but it was Neesham’s belligerent 58 that kept the contest alive until the thrilling final over. Despite the heart-pounding finish, New Zealand couldn’t pull off the victory they so desperately sought.
New Zealand’s captain Tom Latham acknowledged the incredible contest, saying, “It was a fantastic game of cricket. There were ebbs and flows throughout the 100 overs. Obviously to get so close hurts.”
In the end, the match belonged to Travis Head, who was named the Player of the Match, as Australia triumphed in this historic showdown with a margin of just five runs.
Brief scores: Australia 388 in 49.2 overs (Travis Head 109, David Warner 81; Glenn Phillips 3/37) bt New Zealand 383/9 in 50 overs (Rachin Ravindra 116, Jimmy Neesham 58, Josh Hazlewood 2/70).
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