Dharamsala (Agencies): Australia overcame a spirited New Zealand to extend their World Cup winning streak to four games in a high-scoring thriller in Dharamsala.
The Black Caps needed 19 to win from the final over to complete a World Cup record chase of 389.
But James Neesham was agonisingly run out for 58 off the penultimate ball and last man Lockie Ferguson could not hit the six needed from the final delivery.
They finished five runs short on 383-9, led by Rachin Ravindra’s stunning 116. The combined tally of 771 runs made it the highest-scoring World Cup game of all time.
Earlier, Travis Head’s brutal 109 from 67 balls, in an opening stand of 175 in 19.1 overs with David Warner, helped Australia to their imposing total of 388.
An uncharacteristically sloppy performance in the field saw New Zealand spill four catches, including Head on 70 and 75, amid a chaotic opening bowling display.
The usually consistent seamers Matt Henry and Trent Boult struggled in the face of Warner and Head’s aggressive start, with the pair smashing 118-0 in the 10-over powerplay – an Australian ODI record. Part-time spinner Glenn Phillips took 3-37 to record the only respectable figures in Australia’s imposing total, which included 20 sixes.
Australia have recovered from two successive defeats to start the tournament and are well-placed for a semi-final spot, while New Zealand’s hopes are not too severely dented after their strong start of four wins.
Classy Ravindra leads brave New Zealand effort
After such a brutal onslaught from Australia’s batters, New Zealand left the field looking understandably overwhelmed: some drooping shoulders, wry smiles and tired legs.
But they are a side renowned for their grit and determination and that is personified by 23-year-old Ravindra. An opening stand of 61 between Devon Conway and Will Young gave him a platform, and he started cautiously in a stand of 96 with Daryl Mitchell, who made 54.
Mitchell’s departure handed Ravindra the reins and he scored freely, targeting straight down the ground, ensuring the daunting run-rate never got too far out of reach with his second century of the tournament. New Zealand matched Australia at the 40-over mark, reaching 292-5, but Ravindra fell two balls later to damage their hopes.
But Neesham, who famously batted in New Zealand’s fateful super over in the 2019 World Cup final, kept accelerating with three fours and three sixes in his knock before Mitchell Starc aided the Black Caps’ cause with five wides in the final over.
Marnus Labuschagne earlier stood on the boundary sponge to hand Trent Boult a six – another parallel with that 2019 epic – but fought back to run out a sprawling Neesham and spark joyous Australia celebrations.
Head marks return with sensational century
Warner has been in sublime form throughout the tournament, with 413 runs and two centuries, and was buoyed by the return of Head from a broken hand.
His injured hand remained heavily strapped but it certainly did not hinder his scoring, reaching his century from 59 balls and whacking seven sixes and 10 fours.
The opening 10 overs were brutal, particularly given New Zealand chose to bowl first.
They are usually meticulous – Boult and Henry start with consistency, Mitchell Santner’s spin rattles through the middle overs and they are backed up by immaculately high standards in the field. But they buckled in the face of balls regularly flying to the boundary – and at one stage Australia’s projected score was 600.
It was remarkable that Warner and Head continued their onslaught for almost 20 overs, but the middle order of Mitchell Marsh, Labuschagne and Steve Smith slowed proceedings down as none of them could find any fluency.
But Glenn Maxwell’s 41 from 24 balls and Pat Cummins’ 14-ball 37 led a revival before the last four wickets fell for just one run as Australia fell just short of 400. With Head a certainty to remain at the top of the order, Australia may reconsider Marsh’s place at three, but they are surging towards the semi-finals with a powerhouse batting line-up looking like they are peaking at the perfect time.
