Travis Head produces the successful hand in 388 vs 383 nail-biter

Australia 388 (Head 109, Warner 81, Phillips 3-37, Boult 3-77) beat New Zealand 383 for 9 (Ravindra 116, Neesham 58, Mitchell 54, Zampa 3-74) by 5 runs

Head justified Australia’s selectors’ gamble in holding him in Australia’s 15-man squad regardless of not being out there for the primary 5 video games. Head and Warner reached dizzying heights within the Himalayan air with a violent show of batting that left New Zealand’s in-form quick bowlers damaged in thoughts, physique and soul with Ferguson struggling an Achilles damage on prime of three overs for 38. Head clubbed 109 from 67 balls whereas Warner pounded 81 from 65.

The pair handled the bowling with utter disdain on the magnificent batting strip. Warner was savage on something brief reaching 50 for the third straight innings, off simply 28 balls. Head seemed like he had by no means been away, regardless of hardly selecting up a bat for six weeks. He bludgeoned something full reaching 50 off 25 balls, Australia’s second-fastest ever within the event and the quickest by a World Cup debutant.

Phillips’ introduction within the 14th over modified the sport. Australia had been 144 for 0 however he instantly tied Warner down with immaculate strains and lengths. He by no means gave the stumps away, hardly overpitched or dropped brief. Warner had scored 65 off 36 however managed to attain simply 16 from his final 29 deliveries together with eight dots off Phillips earlier than he chipped a return catch within the twentieth over.

While spin stalled Warner, Head stored going fearlessly. He had some luck. He was dropped twice, as soon as on 70 by Santner diving one-handed full size to his proper off his personal bowling, and as soon as on 75 by Phillips standing shut at midwicket as Head hammered a full-blooded pull shot.

Head raced to his century off 59 balls, the quickest by an opener in World Cups. But he too was deceived by Phillips, taking part in again to a fuller, faster ball and misplaced his center stump.

Then Australia’s customary middle-order stumble unfolded. Mitchell Marsh actually struggled having been shifted again to No. 3 on Head’s return. His lack of strike-rotation brought about an agitated Steven Smith to gap out to mid-off of Phillips. Labuschagne additionally struggled. The pair allowed Phillips to bowl 30 dot balls in his 10 overs and scored simply 54 off 77 balls between them earlier than they each fell to Santner.

Australia seemed like they’d wasted the nice work of Warner and Head till Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis and Pat Cummins smacked 11 fours and 7 sixes between them within the dying overs to assist Australia submit an imposing 388. Maxwell was once more magnificent making 41 off simply 24 balls. Inglis made 38 off 28 and Cummins 37 off simply 14 with 4 towering strikes. But each had been aided by some uncharacteristic drops from the New Zealand outfielders.

Australia had been 387 for six with two overs to go however misplaced 4 for 1 to be bowled out with 4 balls left with Trent Boult selecting up three wickets in an over. It did not appear a problem on the time nevertheless it practically proved pricey.

New Zealand began nicely within the chase however had been unable to match Australia’s powerplay fireworks. Devon Conway and Will Young each seemed in glorious contact however neither may money in on beautiful begins with Hazlewood claiming each with the assistance of Starc’s chic catching.

Ravindra battled for rhythm early, however Mitchell dragged him alongside in his slipstream throughout one other sensational half-century that he reached off 42 balls. Mitchell handled Zampa and Starc with equal disdain, wanting each bit the world-class batter he has develop into. But Zampa had the final chuckle forcing a miscue to have Mitchell caught at long-on.

Ravindra began to motor as soon as Mitchell fell. He shared a half-century stand with Latham and a 43-run stand with Phillips. Ravindra raced from 50 to 100 in simply 28 balls. He had not hit a six till he was 45 and he struck 5 to get to 3 figures, all of which had been as pure because the mountain air. He was dropped by Maxwell simply after reaching three figures, nevertheless it did not price a lot as he holed out shortly after.

But his innings introduced New Zealand inside attain of a file chase as they had been on the identical rating as Australia with 10 overs to go. Neesham stored his cool as Australia misplaced theirs. Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins all missed the mark as Neesham and the tail discovered the boundary at will.

When Matt Henry holed out New Zealand wanted 43 off 18 earlier than bedlam unfolded. But Australia held on and consolidated their semi-final possibilities with New Zealand left to rue one other Dharamsala defeat.