Australia was 387 for 6, but they lost 4 for 1 with four balls remaining, Trent Boult took three wickets in an over to bowl them out but New Zealand was left to lament yet another loss in Dharamsala as Australia held on and solidified their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
New Zealand had won the toss and decided to bowl first. Travis Head and Warner, with Ferguson suffering an Achilles injury after three overs for 38, reached stratospheric heights in the Himalayan air with a ferocious display of batting that left New Zealand’s in-form fast bowlers broken in mind, body, and soul. Warner scored 81 off 65 balls, but Head clubbed 109 off 67.
On the superb batting strip, the two displayed complete disdain towards the bowlers. In just 28 balls, Warner scored 50 runs in three consecutive innings, and he was merciless to anything less.
After barely picking up a bat for six weeks, Head appeared as though he had never left. His 50 off 25 balls was the fastest by a World Cup debutant and the second-fastest score ever achieved by Australia in the competition. He bludgeoned everything fully.
The game was changed by Phillips’ entry in the fourteenth over. Australia was 144 for 0, but he quickly restrained Warner with well-timed lengths and lines.
He hardly ever over-pitched or lowered himself, and he never let the stumps show. Before he chipped a return catch in the 20th over, Warner had scored 65 from 36 deliveries, but he could only score 16 from his next 29 deliveries, including eight dots off Phillips.
Warner was slowed by spin, but Head persisted courageously. He was somewhat lucky. He was dismissed twice; on 70 by Santner dived one-handed full length to his right off his own bowling and on 75, when Phillips stood at midwicket as when Head struck a full-blooded pull shot,
Head achieved the fastest century by an opener in World Cup history, reaching it in just 59 balls. However, Phillips also tricked him, when he lost his middle stump while playing back to a quicker and fuller ball.
Then Australia began its usual middle-order stumble. After Head’s comeback, Mitchell Marsh found it extremely difficult to adjust and was sent back to No. 3. A frustrated Steven Smith holed out to mid-off of Phillips due to his lack of strike-rotation. Labuschagne also struggled.
It appeared as though Australia had thrown away Warner and Head’s excellent work, but in the final overs, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, and Pat Cummins posted an impressive 388 with a combined total of 11 fours and seven sixes.
Again, Maxwell was outstanding, scoring 41 off just 24 balls. Inglis hit 38 off 28 and Cummins made 37 off just 14 with four majestic strokes. However, the New Zealand outfielders’ unusual drops helped both of them.
With two overs remaining, Australia was 387 for 6, but they lost 4 for 1 and with four balls remaining, Trent Boult took three wickets in an over to bowl them out. At the time, it didn’t seem like a problem, but it almost proved costly.
In the chase, New Zealand got out to a strong start, but they couldn’t match Australia’s power play fireworks. Will Young and Devon Conway both look very good, but they were unable to capitalize on their brilliant starts; instead, Hazlewood claimed both with the help of Starc’s outstanding catching.
While Mitchell was making another incredible half-century off 42 balls, Ravindra was struggling for rhythm early on and was eventually pulled along in his slipstream.
Looked every bit the world-class batter he has become, Mitchell treated Zampa and Starc with equal contempt. Although Mitchell was caught at long-on due to a miscalculation, Zampa had the final laugh.
After Mitchell fell, Ravindra really got going. He and Latham had a half-century stand as well as a 43-run stand with Philips. In just 28 balls, Ravindra ran from 50 to 100.
Not until he was 45 did he hit a six, and he struck five to reach three digits, all of which were as clean as the mountain air. Not long after he hit three figures, Maxwell dropped him, but it didn’t cost him anything because he quickly holed up.
However, with 10 overs remaining and tied with Australia for the score, his innings put New Zealand within striking distance of a record chase. When Australia lost its composure, Neesham maintained his. Neesham and the tail found the boundary at will, while Starc, Hazlewood, and Cummins all missed the mark.
But New Zealand was left to lament yet another loss in Dharamsala as Australia held on and solidified their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
Pat Cummins, Australia captain:
“(On the game in general) That was awesome. Sometimes I have to remember I was on the field. They kept coming at us. It was fantastic. (On the opening partnership) I loved that, especially from Trav, who has been away. That is how we want to play, take the game on and they led the way. (On the bowling display) It was a good wicket. I thought, in patches, we bowled well. Other times, we gave too much width away. Some really good partnerships that were tough to get into. (On the fielding effort) Marnus is out there, throwing himself around at the end. Not the easiest fielding grounds here but the boys threw themselves around. We have a few days’ break. Will enjoy this one and then get stuck in (for the next game).”
Tom Latham, New Zealand captain:
“(On his thoughts on the game) Fantastic game of cricket. Ebbs and flows throughout. To come so close, obviously, it hurts. They played fantastically well and put us on the back foot from the start. He bowled fantastically to come and bowl ten overs for 30 and take three wickets, at crucial times. To bowl his full ten from one end was great and his work is paying off. (On the run-chase) When you are chasing close to 400, you have to play the perfect game. Young and Dev (Conway) got us off to a good start. Rachin played an extraordinary knock – one of the better knocks you will see. (On playing in Dharamsala) Great place to play, really special place to be in. (On the Rugby World Cup final) just want to say all the best to the All Blacks and hopefully, they can bring the World Cup home.”
Travis Head, Player of the Match:
“(On how he is feeling) Nice to be back, nice to be contributing. Very close (game) in the end. Was a hell of a game (On his preparation) Only had a couple of hits. A little bit like the WTC, where I had a few weeks off. Have a few bruises that I can strap up over the next couple of days. (On the partnership with Warner) Think we play together really well. Complement each other well. We try to stay connected with each other, stay in the moment and we want to be as positive as we can.”