Image Credit- Getty
Australia defeated New Zealand in a thrilling 771-run
battle that reached dizzying heights and featured records galore at Dharamsala,
the home of the highest-scoring World Cup match ever played.
Australia’s towering 388 was supported by a remarkable
59-ball century from Travis Head, who along with David Warner hit 118 runs in
the opening powerplay and had an incredible 175-run opening partnership. With
this victory, Australia became the first team in ODI history to score 350 or
more runs in three consecutive powerplays. However, Rachin Ravindra struck a
brilliant 77 off 77 balls, and Daryl Mitchell, carrying on with his romance
with Dharamsala, added 54 to give New Zealand a chance to complete their most
ambitious ODI chase ever.
Like in the 2019 World Cup final, it was left to James
Neesham at the end, and like that time, he came within one hit of taking the
game with an incredible 58 off 39 balls. However, he finished similarly to his
Lord’s partner Martin Guptill, cutting a desolate figure on the grass with his
face down after being run out off the penultimate ball. Despite being
completely outclassed, Mitchell Starc maintained composure to stop Lockie
Ferguson from scoring the six he need with the final ball, giving Australia a crucial
two points.
Starc might have easily been Australia’s antagonist.
New Zealand had two wickets in hand and needed 43 from 18 balls. Josh Hazlewood
and Starc both missed their targets. Marnus Labuschagne gave Trent Boult six
runs in 2019 by standing on the rope at long-on. This gave Boult some personal
atonement. At the beginning of the final over, Starc had 19 to work with, but
Australia’s slow over-rate meant he could only have four men outside the
circle. His second ball was five wide, bringing the equation down to 13 off
five. However, Neesham was unable to locate the rope due to his yorker shots,
and Australia’s sweepers produced some outstanding saves before Labuschagne and
Josh Inglis combined to run Neesham out on the second-to-last ball.
While they got off to a strong start in the chase, New
Zealand was unable to match Australia’s powerplay fireworks. Despite their
impressive beginnings, Devon Conway and Will Young were unable to capitalise,
as Hazlewood claimed both with the assistance of Starc’s outstanding catching.
Early on, Ravindra struggled to keep up with the pace,
but Mitchell carried him along in his wake with another incredible half-century
off of 42 balls. Mitchell, who now resembles a world-class batter, treated
Zampa and Starc with similar contempt. However, Zampa had the final laugh,
leading Mitchell to make a mistake that was immediately noticed.
After Mitchell collapsed, Ravindra got really excited.
He and Latham shared a half-century stand, and he and Phillips shared a 43-run
stand. Ravindra completed a 50-to-100 sprint in just 28 balls. He hit five to
reach three digits, all of which were as clean as the mountain air, having not
hit a six since he was forty-five. Maxwell dropped him immediately after he hit
three figures, but it didn’t cost him anything because he quickly holed up.
Before chaos broke out, New Zealand needed 43 off 18
when Matt Henry holed out. But Australia held firm and solidified their
prospects of reaching the semi-finals, leaving New Zealand to lament yet
another loss in Dharamsala.