Cricket World Cup: Australia bolster semi-final ambitions with frenetic five-run win over New Zealand
New Zealand fell just short of completing a world record chase, while Australia held on for a five-run victory in the highest-scoring match in Men’s World Cup history.
Australia had posted a whopping 388 and the Kiwis came close, finishing on 383-9, after needing 19 from the final over, largely thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s brilliant 116 from 89 balls.
The Aussies – invited to bat first – got off to a scorching start in Dharamsala through David Warner and World Cup debutant Travis Head, who hit 10 sixes in their first powerplay of 118 runs as part of a 175-run opening partnership.
Head, who was recovering from the broken hand that forced him to sit out his side’s first five matches of the tournament, made his half-century in just 25 deliveries, while Warner took three more balls to reach his milestone.
Glenn Phillips finally started to stop the rot when Warner was caught and bowled, departing for 81 off 65 in the 20th over, before managing to bowl Head four overs later, but not before the 29-year-old raised his first World Cup had brought. century before his departure for 109 of 67 deliveries.
The middle order was decidedly less electric, but the Aussies weren’t done yet and piled on late through Glenn Maxwell (41 off 24), Josh Inglis (38 off 28) and skipper Pat Cummins (37 off 14).
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Rachin Ravindra somehow reached his century with this brilliant six against Australia
Devon Conway and Will Young provided a promising start for the Kiwis, combining for 50 runs for New Zealand in just 31 balls, while Ravindra kept the Black Caps’ dreams alive by blasting nine fours and five sixes before eventually being fired by Cummins. for the critical wicket.
James Neesham, with 58 off 39, kept New Zealand in it but was bowled out on the penultimate delivery of the innings after a replay, leaving the Kiwis with the impossible task of hitting a six off the last ball.
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Mitchell Starc took a super catch to dismiss Devon Conway as New Zealand chased 389 to win
What’s next?
The Cricket World Cup continues on Sunday as England take on hosts India (8am on Sky Sports Cricket, start 8.30am), with their hopes of qualification on the line.
New Zealand face South Africa in Pune on Wednesday (live from 8am on Sky Sports Cricket, starts 8.30am), while Australia will look to extend their winning streak when they face England on November 4 (live from 8am on Sky Sports Cricket, 8.30am start). Stream the Cricket World Cup and more top sports with NOW