| ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup ultimate, Ahmedabad: |
| India 240 all out (50 overs): Rahul 66 (107), Kohli 54 (63); Starc 3-55 |
| Australia 241-4 (43 overs): Head 137 (120), Labuschagne 58 (110) |
| Australia gained by six wickets |
| Scorecard |
Australia shocked hosts India in Ahmedabad to win the lads’s Cricket World Cup for a sixth time.
Australia quietened the wild help from the 100,000-strong dwelling crowd by dismissing their beforehand unbeaten opponents for 240 earlier than Travis Head’s sensational century meant they romped to victory with seven overs to spare.
After their bowlers expertly took benefit of a gradual pitch, Australia had been themselves decreased to 47-3 as India hit again in an electrical new-ball spell.
However Head and Marnus Labuschagne calmly weathered the storm with a stand of 192 as Indian hope drifted away from the world’s largest cricket stadium.
Head was caught for 137 from 120 balls with simply two runs wanted, however Glenn Maxwell flogged the successful runs a ball later whereas Labuschagne ended 58 not out from 110.
The very good victory means Australia lengthen their report as essentially the most profitable aspect in 50-over World Cup historical past and now sit 4 titles away from the remainder of the pack.
It additionally caps a six-month interval by which they beat India to win the World Take a look at Championship and retained the Ashes in England.
India, in the meantime, had been left crestfallen as their bid for a primary white-ball title since 2011 – an achievement which regarded unstoppable as they made rampant progress via the semi-final and group stage – fell on the ultimate hurdle.
Considered one of Australia’s best nights
This was speculated to be India’s day in entrance of an unlimited dwelling crowd with their prime minister Narendra Modi, who this stadium is called after, up within the stands.
As a substitute, it resulted in crushing disappointment as Head produced one of many nice World Cup knocks and Australia ran out shock and cozy winners.
By the point 29-year-old Head reached his century, some within the huge stands had already made their exit, whereas seamer Mohammed Siraj was in tears on the finish.
Australia had been contenders when this match started, with out being tipped by many to go the entire manner, similar to once they gained the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Their marketing campaign hit severe jitters early on with defeats of their opening two video games, first by India after which South Africa, however they’ve gained the title with 9 consecutive victories, beating each staff within the match in a row.
On the finish, their gamers, together with England’s outdated foes David Warner and Steve Smith, charged onto the sphere in celebration.
Australia might have gained all of it earlier than, however this ranks as considered one of their best nights.
Head ends India’s dream
Head didn’t play within the first 4 video games of Australia’s marketing campaign due to a damaged hand, however Australia saved him of their squad, figuring out the match-winning high quality he possesses.
He scored 109 in his first look in opposition to New Zealand however this innings was on one other stage as he first handled intense stress earlier than punishing the bowling.
After his opening companion Warner nicked the primary ball of the chase via the slips, Head crashed two boundaries to settle Australian nerves.
Warner then edged a large ball to slide for seven off Mohammed Shami, whereas Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith each fell to the sensible Jasprit Bumrah.
The gang was alive once more at that stage, though Smith’s lbw resolution would have been overturned had he reviewed.
These wickets got here in a manic opening interval by which India took the higher hand but additionally gave up 15 extras within the powerplay alone, these in blue seemingly too wanting to defend their low rating.
Batting grew to become simpler on a gradual pitch that had provided extra flip within the day, and Head took benefit. He cracked 14 fours and 4 sixes, with the sixes all pumped excessive over mid-wicket.
On 99 he would have been run out as he scampered to a few figures, had Ravindra Jadeja’s throw hit from cowl.
He was lastly out for 137, caught at deep mid-wicket trying to complete in fashion. As he left the sphere he was embraced by Labuschagne and was congratulated by the Indians with the outcome already determined.
Excellent Aussies tie down India
Head’s innings will take the headlines, however this victory was constructed on a sensational efficiency with the ball and a courageous resolution to bowl first on the toss by Pat Cummins.
Captain Rohit Sharma gave India a speedy begin with 47 from 31 balls, however from 76-1 within the tenth over, Australia utilized a stranglehold on India’s star-studded batting line-up and didn’t let go.
Head performed a vital hand too, brilliantly catching Rohit as he ran again from cowl, earlier than Shreyas Iyer was caught behind off Cummins 4 balls later to go away the hosts 81-3.
That left Virat Kohli and KL Rahul to aim a rebuild, however the canny Australia bowlers saved the scoring to a crawl via a mixture of quick, slower balls and athletic fielding, all whereas captain Cummins combined his pack to nice impact.
Kohli and Rahul placed on 67 in 109 balls earlier than the previous captain performed on to Cummins for 54 within the twenty ninth over to go away the huge stadium shocked in silence. Rahul then nicked a magnificence from Starc, ending any actual hope of a big India rating.
India’s decrease order had hardly been wanted on this match, and when lastly referred to as upon, Ravindra Jadeja managed solely 9 and Suryakumar Yadav 18 with simply 4 boundaries coming after the primary 10 overs.
India’s worst efficiency with the bat got here on the worst attainable time within the match, however large credit score should go to Cummins and his champion assault.
‘We saved our greatest for final’ – what they stated
Australia captain Pat Cummins: “We saved our greatest for final and a few big-match gamers stood up and we’re fairly happy.
“We had been determined within the area, I assumed it began in opposition to South Africa final week. The boys had been implausible. We have got an ageing squad however we’re nonetheless throwing ourselves round. We had been actually happy with 240 as a result of we had been pleased with something beneath 300.”
India captain Rohit Sharma: “We weren’t adequate as we speak however I am actually pleased with the staff and the way we performed from recreation one. We tried all the pieces we may from our aspect but it surely wasn’t speculated to be.
“We had been 270 or 280 however then we saved shedding wickets. We could not get a partnership collectively and that’s precisely what Australia did to win the sport, they stitched a great partnership after they misplaced three wickets.”
Participant of the match, Australia’s Travis Head: “Not in 1,000,000 years did I believe that might occur [being man of the match today and in the World Test Championship final]. What a tremendous day. I am simply thrilled to be part of it.
“It’s a lot higher than being sat on the sofa at dwelling! I am very fortunate that all the pieces went properly and I used to be capable of get again and the help that the boys confirmed, I did not assume this might occur. I used to be nervous within the first 20 balls however Marnus [Labuschagne] batted brilliantly and it’s nice to bat with him. It was a tremendous partnership.”
Former England bowler Steven Finn on BBC Take a look at Match Particular: “The whole lot, from begin to end, that Australia did was excellent.
“They had been actually excellent within the area once more. Australia had been simply on high from that second that Travis Head caught Rohit Sharma and so they by no means let India off the hook.”
