AUS vs NZ Review: Australia hold nerves in back-to-back World Cup thrillers

Australia and New Zealand renewed their World Cup rivalry with a match of the ages in Dharamsala. The Kangaroos emerging victorious by a mere five runs in a contest that recorded over 770 runs combined.

Batting first, the Australian openers, Travis Head and David Warner, displayed a spectacular show of aggressive batting, forming a formidable partnership of 175 runs in just 19 overs.

Warner reached his 50 in just 28 balls. Head, equally relentless, reached his fifty in a mere 25 deliveries, making it the joint fastest in the tournament. Eventually, he secured his maiden World Cup century in just 59 balls, the third-quickest in this edition.

Towards the end of the innings, Australia’s assault continued, with Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis contributing to the surge. In the final overs, Pat Cummins also took charge, launching a flurry of sixes to propel Australia to 388 in 49.2 overs.

Chasing the target, the Kiwi team had a decent start. Both openers Devon Conway and Will Young stitched a 61-run partnership, but then Conway was dismissed, and soon Young was also got out at the team’s score of 72.

Then in-form batters Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell stitched a good partnership and looked like they would take the game deep, but Adam Zampa provided the crucial breakthrough for his team by dismissing Mitchell. Ravindra was playing beautifully at one end, but the Kiwis were losing wickets from the other end. Ravindra scored a magnificent hundred, scoring 116 off 89 balls.

The rest of the batters also chipped in with some small knocks, and then James Neesham came in and played a blinder 58 off 39 balls before being run out in the last over. Neesham tried his level best in the end, but Australia won the game by five runs as Mitchel Starc bowled a brilliant last over under pressure to win the game for Aussies.

Top Performers of the Match

Rachin Ravindra (116 of 89)

Young star Rachin Ravindra has been making a name for himself in this marquee event. In a pressure situation, Rachin showcased great composure and batted brilliantly to keep his team in the chase. His innings of 116 included nine fours and five sixes.

Glenn Phillips (3/37, 10 overs)

Known more for his batting prowess, Glenn Phillips showcased his bowling talent in this match and bowled beautifully, taking three important wickets of David Warner, Travis Head, and Steven Smith, and emerged as the best bowler of the match. His bowling helped the Kiwis to restrict the Aussies below 400, which was looking certain at one stage.

What next?

Going ahead, Australia will play against England on November 4. While New Zealand will take on South Africa on November 1.