LAWRENCE BOOTH: Cricket World Cup highs and lows after Australia beat India to snatch international glory
- Australia triumphed over India to win their sixth ODI international World Cup
- Travis Head took his country to a stunning victory and broke the hearts of Indian fans
- England have had a miserable World Cup and will have to pick themselves up
Indian hearts were broken on Sunday afternoon as Australia silenced a screaming Narendra Modi stadium to win the Cricket World Cup
A scintillating 137 from 120 balls for Travis Head and a gritty performance with the ball gave Pat Cummins’ side an excellent win.
Australia lost both their opening matches of the tournament to India and South Africa, but rallied to win nine games in a row.
Defending champions England, meanwhile, slumped to one of the worst title defenses in cricket history.
Below, Mailsport’s Lawrence Booth takes a look at some of the highlights and lowlights of this World Cup.
Australia is celebrating its sixth World Cup victory after starting the tournament with two defeats
Best batsman
Virat Kohli passed 50 in nine of his eleven innings and amassed a total of 765 runs, a World Cup record. He also touched Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI figure of 49 hundreds. The undisputed poster boy of the tournament.
Virat Kohli played an important role in the Indian tournament, hitting back-to-back fifties in the semi-final and final
Best bowler
Mohammed Shami didn’t even play in India’s first four matches but finished with 24 wickets out of 10, including four of the tournament’s top nine picks. No game.
Best innings
At 91 for seven, chasing 293 against Afghanistan, Australia looked set for defeat. But Glenn Maxwell hit 201 not out from 128 balls, much of it while battling severe cramps. Towards the end he stood still and swayed, all the way to 21 fours and 10 sixes, and perhaps the greatest ODI knock of all time.
Glenn Maxwell’s brilliant 201 not out off 128 balls including 21 fours and 10 sixes despite injury
Best game
New Zealand’s defeat to Australia in Dharamshala, when they were chasing 389, was a cracker. But it came the day after South Africa had come home to Pakistan by one wicket, with their last pair on 11.
Greatest anger
Afghanistan’s victory over England in Delhi was surpassed two days later by the Netherlands’ victory over South Africa in Dharamshala. Set 246 in 43 overs, the South Africans were bowled out for 207.
Biggest turn-off
England. They arrived in India thinking everything was going to be fine, and were overtaken and outplayed by almost every other major team. One of the worst title defenses in any sport.
Jos Buttler’s England will be under intense pressure and criticism after a dismal tournament
Nothing clicked for England as they slumped to six defeats during a poor World Cup season
Most bizarre moment
Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews became the first player in international cricket to be given a timeout after Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed while playing with his chinstrap.
Sri Lanka’s Angelo Matthews became the first player in international cricket to be timed out