Picture : ICC / X
Before the much awaited final clash against India at the Narendra Modi stadium at Ahmedabad , Aussie Skipper Pat Cummins had issued a waning . Cummins said he had a plan in place to silence the partisan crowd. And he proved it .
Australia , five- time winners added their sixth World Cup trophy as they dashed India’s hopes of 2011 repeat by beating them by six wickets. It also ended India’s unbeaten run in the tournament where they won 10 matches but failed in the final frontier.
Earlier Aussie Skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bowl first. India Skipper Rohit Sharma once again led from the front with his intent and aggressive approach with a blazing 47 ( 31 balls, 4 fours 3 sixes) . He ell to stunning running backwards catch by Travis Head off Glenn Maxwell. Fellow opener Shubman Gill fell early for 4 to Mitchell Starc. Virat Kohli looked in ominous form and scored 54 ( 63 balls , 4 fours). Just as Virat looked threatening he played on to a Pat Cummins delivery on to the stumps. Cummins later termed it as the “sweetest moment” in the cricket field. Shreyas Iyer ( 4) was dismissed by Cummins.
Cummins lead from the front with astute filed placings and Indian batsmen were denied fours from 11 till the 40th over. Aussie fielding was simply brilliant. It frustrated India . Ravindra Jadeja looked clueless in 22 ball 9 . K L Rahul struggled to score 66 ( 107 balls , 1 four) . Suryakumar Yadav known for his innovation was subdued in his 18 ( 28 balls 1 four) . Mohammed Shami ( 6), Jasprit Bumrah ( 1), Kuldeep Yadav ( 10), Mohammed Siraj not out 9 . India were bowled out for 240 in their 50 overs. Target was at least 40- 50 runs short
Aussie bowlers had a firm stranglehold on the powerful India batting line-up. Cummins plan was spot on. Josh Hazlewood , Michell Starc too got breakthroughs whenever Cummins wanted them to .
Aussie bowling figures were : Mitchell Starc 3/ 55 ( 10 overs), Josh Hazlewood 2/ 60 ( 10 overs), Glenn Maxwell 1/ 35 ( 6 overs), Pat Cummins 2/ 34 ( 10 overs), Adam Zampa 1/ 44 ( 10 overs), Mitchell Marsh 0/ 5 ( 2 overs), Travis Head 0/ 4 ( 2 overs)
In reply . Aussie openers Travis Head and David Warner made intent clear. David Warner flashed at wide ball by Shami and was caught by Virat kohli for ( 7) . Big- hiiting all- rounder Mitchell Marsh showed danger in his run a ball 15 but like Warner went for flashy drive off a wide ball to be out to Bumrah. Steven Smith looked rusty and was out for 4. DRS showed he was not out in the leg before. But he did not take the review. As three wickets gave India hope. But hopes were soon dashed as Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne stitched a match- winning partnership to stun India and the huge crowd .
Head was sensational . Five months ago, he secured victory for Australia in the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval with a rapid 163. Sidelined during the initial stages of Australia’s World Cup 2023 campaign due to a broken hand, Head chose to recover at home before reuniting with the squad midway through the tournament.
On his return, the left-hander from South Australia not only justified his team’s confidence in him but also accomplished an extraordinary feat by earning the Player of the Match accolade in the World Cup 2023 final. Head scored a majestic 137 ( 120 balls, 15 fours , 4 sixes) and fell only when Australia needed just 2 to win. He was given a superb support in Test match style by calm Marnus Labuschagne who remained unbeaten with a solid 58 ( 110 balls , 4 fours).
Fittingly Glenn Maxwell hit the winning two runs and and the Aussie players from the dug out ran on to the field in joy to celebrate a historic win. Australia reaching 241/ 4 in 43 overs. It was their 9th match win in a row. Aussies had lost their first two matches only to bounce back magnificently to peak at the right time to clinch the title .
India bowlers gave it all but it was not enough. Jasprit Bumrah 2/ 43 ( 9 overs), Mohammed Shami 1/ 47 ( 7 overs), Ravindra Jadeja 0/ 43 ( 10 overs), Kuldeep Yadav 0/ 56 ( 10 overs), Mohammed Siraj 1/ 45 ( 7 overs) .
India were devastated. The tears in Skipper Rohit Sharma’s eyes as he headed towards the dressing room and Siraj breaking down and K L Rahul on his knees showed how Team India were hurt with the defeat. It was so near yet so far . After winning 10/ 10 . To lose in the 11th that too final was indeed heartbreaking.
Match: World Cup 2023, Final
Venue: Ahmedabad | Date: Nov 19, 2023
Man of the match: Travis Head
Man of the Series: Virat Kohli
