ISLAMABAD: Australia beat New Zealand by five runs in the ICC World Cup exciting and high-scoring contest played at Dharamsala, India, on Saturday. The match reached the last ball, where New Zealand required 6 runs on 1 ball. Despite filing a huge total of 389 by Australia, the Kiwis batter tried hard and reached close to the target, but in the end, Australia managed to win the match.
Chasing a gigantic target of 389, Kiwis batters replied in the same firing momentum and reached the first 50 runs in the first six overs. However, Australia managed to break the partnership into the 8th over when Devon Convey was caught by Starc at short fine leg on the bowling of Hazlewood. Convey scored 28 on 17 balls. Aussie’s bowlers managed to get the second wicket in the first power play and removed the other opener, Young, on 32. At the stage, New Zealand were 72 for 2 in 9.4 overs.
Meanwhile, Ravindra and Daryl Mitchel consolidated the innings while adding a crucial 96-run partnership for the team with a handsome run rate. Both also completed their half-centuries.
In the 24th over, Zampa removed Mitchel on 54. He got his second wicket when dismissed the skipper Tom Latham on 21. In the 37th over, New Zealand lost their 5th wicket on 265 when Philips was removed by Maxwell on 17. Meanwhile, Ravindra also completed his splendid hundred. New Zealand batters managed to maintain the run rate, however, falling of wickets with interval-dominated Australia. But Kiwis batters were still there to move towards the target.
In the 41st over, Australia managed to get rid of Ravindra, who scored 116 on 89 balls. His inning included 5 sixes and nine boundaries. After the dismissal of Ravindra, the Australian came back into the game. In the next couple of overs, they also got the wicket of Santner and Matt Henry.
In 47 overs, New Zealand were 346 for 8. They required 43 runs on 18 balls with Neesham on the crease. In the 48th over, New Zealand grabbed 11 runs. At the stage, they required 33 runs on 12 balls with two wickets in hand. In the 49th over, Neesham and Boult took 14 runs. Neshaam also completed his half-century on 33 balls, including 3 sixes and 3 boundaries. In the last overs, New Zealand required 19 runs to win. Starc conceded 5 wide runs on the last over, taking back the Kiwis into games.
After the wide balls, the Kiwis required 13 on 5 balls. Neshaam took three connective doubles on the next three balls. Kiwis then required 7 from 2 balls with Neshaam on strike to make the game a nail-biting contest. However, on the 2nd last ball, he was run out while taking the 2nd runs. Neshaam scored 58 on 39 balls. On the last ball, New Zealand required 6 runs to win. But they couldn’t make it. Australia won the most exciting game of the event by 5 runs.
From Australia, Adma Zampa grabbed 3 wickets. Hazlewood and Pat Cummins got two wickets each, while Maxwell grabbed one wicket.
Australia Batting
Earlier, Australia set a massive target of 389 runs for New Zealand, where both openers filed a massive 175-run partnership for the first wicket with over 11 runs per over.
Travis Head scored 109 runs off 67 balls, while Josh Inglis contributed 38, Pat Cummins 37, and Mitchell Marsh scored 36 runs. David Warner added 81 runs, and Glenn Maxwell scored 41 runs in a thrilling display of cricketing prowess.
Australia Team
David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis †, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand Team
Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c)†, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
