Australia’s clash with New Zealand is recognized as the best match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup so far, which saw the men in green and yellow come out victorious by five runs.
Australia batted first and was bowled out for a massive 388 in 49.2 overs. Openers David Warner and Travis Head got their team off to a rollicking start with a sensational partnership of 175 in just 19 overs before Warner was dismissed for an excellent 81 off just 65 balls laced with 5 fours and 6 sixes.
Head, who was making his World Cup debut, smashed his maiden WC century before being dismissed for 109 off 67 balls – a brutal knock which included 10 fours and 7 maximums.
After a lull through the middle overs, Glenn Maxwell cracked 5 fours and 2 sixes in his 41 off 24 balls, while Josh Inglis scored 38 off 28, hitting 4 fours and a six, and captain Pat Cummins smashed 2 fours and 4 sixes in a brilliant cameo of 37 off just 14 balls. Glenn Phillips bowled sensationally, taking 3/37, Trent Boult took 3/77, and Mitchell Santner had 2/80 in 10 overs each.
Chasing 389 for victory, NZ came close to pulling off what would have been a record WC chase. The Kiwis were powered by another magnificent century from Rachin Ravindra, who has taken the WC by storm for them.
The 23-year-old left-hander hit 9 boundaries and 5 sixes in his top score of 116 off 89 balls. Ravindra and Darryl Mitchell shared in a 96-run partnership before Mitchell was crucially dismissed for 54 from 51 balls by Adam Zampa (3/74).
When Ravindra was dismissed, NZ needed 96 from 58 balls, and Jimmy Neesham gave it every ounce of effort he had. The all-rounder slammed 3 fours and as many sixes on his way to 58 off 39 balls.
But with 7 runs to win from 2 balls, Neesham was unfortunately run out trying to run a second run. A dot ball off the last ball meant that the Aussies came away with a thrilling victory by just 5 runs in a World Cup classic. Cummins took 2/66 in 10 overs, Josh Hazlewood took 2/70 in 9 and Glenn Maxwell 1/62 in his 10 overs.
