Australia vs New Zealand : Match No. 27
ICC World Cup 2023
Match No. 27; 28th October 2023: 10.30 AM
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharmshala
Australia vs New Zealand
New Zealand won the toss and skipper Tom Latham had decided to bowl first.
Australian openers David Warner and Travis Head have laid a brilliant foundation. The Australian team have come up with 1 change. Travis Head replaced Cameroon Green in this match. The first 50 for Australia came in just 4.1 overs, when David Warner was batting on 26 (17) and Travis Head was 21 on 10 balls. In the 8th over of the innings, David Warner completed his 3rd successive half century in 28 balls. Head was also not much behind and he even scored his half century in just 25 balls.
After 9 overs, Australia were 108 without any loss and were batting at an average of 12 runs per over. Both the openers added 175 runs for the 1st wicket partnership. Warner was first to go on 81 off 65 balls with 5 boundaries and 6 huge SIXES. Australia were 175/1 after 19.1 overs. Glenn Phillips had taken the wicket of Warner, caught on his own ball.
In the 22nd over, Travis Head completed his century in 59 balls. Australia had scored 200 runs in 23 overs and, on the same run, Australia had lost the 2nd wicket when Head was out on 109 off 67 balls with 10 boundaries and 7 brilliant SIXES. The successful bowler was Phillips again, who had bowled out Travis Head.
Once 325/6 in 44.3 overs, Australia could not complete the full 50 overs quota and may be disappointed as they had lost quick wickets in the end. The 7th wicket was out on 387 and the whole team was back in the pavilion on 388. It was a good total. Now it was the responsibility of Australian bowlers to defend the total and defeat their traditional rivals in the ICC World Cup 2023.
Target for New Zealand: 389
New Zealand also have one change in their team. All-rounder James Neesham replaced Mark Chapman for this match.
Davon Conway and Will Young had the responsibility of building a good opening partnership and laying a good foundation for the successful chase of the Australian total of 387.
Devon Conway was first to go on 28 (27) on the bowling of Josh Hazelwood, when New Zealand’s total was 61 after 7:2 overs. The other opener, Young, was also the victim of Hazelwood in his next over and he was out on 32, when Australia was 72/2 after 94 overs.
Now Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchel were on the crease and were batting very responsibly. The first 100 for New Zealand came after 13.5 overs. It was much slower than Australia but a bit closer to the required run rate.
Daryl Mitchell had completed his 50 in 42 balls and New Zealand were 153/2 after 21:3 overs. But soon after his fifty, Zampa, on the last ball of his 4th over, sent him back to the pavilion. Australia were 168/3 after 24 overs. New Zealand was scoring at 7.00 runs per over and the asking rate was creeping up.
Rachin Ravindra completed his 50 with a huge SIX on Starc. This was the 4th 50+ score of Rachin Ravindra in this World Cup.
Zampa, in his next spell and his 6th over again, gave a breakthrough to Australia by sending Tom Latham back to the pavilion for 21 runs and New Zealand were 222/4.
In the same fashion as he had completed his 50, Rachin Ravindra completed his 100 also by hitting a brilliant SIX and this was his 2nd Century in the ICC World Cup 2023. He completed his century in 77 balls. This was the fastest World Cup century for New Zealand.
Glenn Phillips was next to go on just 12 runs and New Zealand had lost the 5th wicket on 265 after 37 overs. The asking rate was creeping up and now it was 9.5 runs per over. The last hope for New Zealand was Rachin, who was still on the crease and also batting sensibly.
In the 41st over, Pat Cummins came to bowl his 7th over and when Rachin Ravindra was trying to loft over deep extra cover, he could not time well and Labuschagne took a good catch and Australia was much happier to take this important wicket of Rachin Ravindra. Australia were 293/6 after 40 and2 overs. James Neesham was now the anchor of the team and he was sailing towards victory, but Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry could make only 17 and 9 runs respectively. Neesham completed his half century in just 33 balls but he didn’t celebrate and his only goal was to celebrate his final runs, i.e. 389.
In the last over, 19 runs were needed for New Zealand. Trent Boult was on the crease and he took a suicidal single to give a strike to Neesham and succeed. The 2nd ball of the over was a wide ball, which fetched 5 runs for New Zealand. Now 13 was needed on 5 balls. But in the next 3 balls, 3 runs on each ball could be scored by Neesham.
Now 7 was needed on 2 balls. On the 5th ball of the final over, Neesham was run out and Australia won the match by 5 runs.
Australia: 388/10 (49.2)
New Zealand: 383/10 (49.5)
Player of the Match: Travis Head
In the 28th match at Eden Kolkata: Netherlands have defeated Bangladesh by 87 runs.
Netherlands: 229/10 (50 overs)
Bangladesh : 142/10 (42.2 overs)
Man of the match: Paul van Meekeren
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