CWC2023: Aussies escape potential defeat after a breathtaking run chase by New Zealand

 


After a high tension South Africa vs Pakistan game at Chennai , the north Indian town of Dharamshala witnessed a high octane thriller between trans tasman rivals Australia and New Zealand  . Australia looked on the road to victory after posting a huge 388 score but were hounded till the end by a spirited New Zealand chase that fell short by a meagre 5 runs .


Put in to bat first  Australia started off in explosive style as Warner and Travis Head, playing his first game in the world cup smashed the New Zealand bowling early through breathtaking strokes.  Matt Henry was  taken for special treatment as Warner and Head smashed him for on side sixes and reeled off boundaries through the off side in the 10.30 AM morning starr at the picturesque Dharamshala.  The pitch looked a belter and balls came on to the bat at comfortable pace . Australia reached 118 in 10 overs . The pace of scoring slowed down with the introduction of spin . Glenn Phillips  bowled brilliantly in the middle overs and started to slow down the scoring  which finally ended with Warner getting dismissed caught and bowled for 81 off 65 balls with 5 fours & 6 sixes . Australia lost their first wicket at 175 in 20th over . 


Travis Head playing his first world cup match finally reached a breathtaking hundred but was soon bowled by Phillips for 109 off 67 balls with 10 fours and 7 sixes .


Head's dismissal preceded a barren period for Australia as the Kiwi spinners tied up  Marsh , Smith and Labuschagne with eventually led to fall of wickets of Marsh (36) to Santner , Smith (18) to Santner and Labuschagne (18) to Phillips .


However Australia found the momentum again in the last 12 overs with Maxwell (41) and Inglis (38) finding their mojo and then Cummins launching  a fierce assault with a 14 ball 37 to take Australia to 388 before they were all out in the 50th over . For New Zealand  Phillips took 3 wickets followed by Boult (3 wickets) and Santner (2 wickets ) 


Chasing  389 to win , New Zealand started with a flier with Conway getting off the blocks quickly with glorious 4 through offside . Young too started to get his momentum as New Zealand showed promise but Hazlewood broke through getting Conway (28) brilliantly caught by Starc at short  fineleg and Young (32) caught in short third.


Daryl Mitchell got into a great partnership with Ravindra as New Zealand continued to keep up the chase . Mitchell again played some glorious down the ground shots as he looked in great touch with Ravindra gaining momentum.  Finally Zampa had Mitchell caught in the deep by Starc for 54 which was a big blow to the Kiwis and an end to the promising 96 run stand .


However Ravindra kept playing breathtaking shots showing his talent once again . He did have a couple of  small partnerships   but  Latham (21) and Phillips(12) could not extend their stay and finally after a heroic effort  Ravindra (116) was caught in the deep by Labuschagne off Cummins which opened the doors for Australia. 


However  if Australia were  entertaining winning thoughts they had to forget that quickly as Jimmy Neesham and Santner went after the Australian bowling . Zampa did get rid of a dangerous Santner (17) but Henry (9) and Boult (10) hung around long enough to help Neesham get after the Aussie bowling . Neesham took boundaries at the start of every over and New Zealand were getting menacingly closer . 


Finally it was 19 required off the last over bowled by Mitchell Starc . A couple of doubles and 5 wides got the target to 9 off 3 balls and on the 5th ball Neesham (58) was run out trying to steal a second run to get back to strike which left New Zealand to get 6 off last ball  but Ferguson was unable to strike and Australia won by 5 runs in a thriller .


For the Aussies Zampa with 3 wickets was the most successful bowler followed by Cummins and Hazlewood with 2 wickets each.  


With this win the Aussies reached 8 points and stayed at 4th spot while New Zealand slipped to 3rd spot behind South Africa and India .


Travis Head for is brilliant century on return to the team was the player of the match . 


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