| ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup remaining, 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 received by six wickets |
| Scorecard |
Australia surprised hosts India in Ahmedabad to win the boys’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 sluggish pitch, Australia have been themselves lowered 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 132 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 prolong their document as probably 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 wherein they beat India to win the World Take a look at Championship and retained the Ashes in England.
India, in the meantime, have been left crestfallen as their bid for a primary white-ball title since 2011 – an achievement which regarded unstoppable as they made rampant progress by means of the semi-final and group stage – fell on the remaining hurdle.
Considered one of Australia’s best nights
This was alleged to be India’s day in entrance of an unlimited dwelling crowd with their prime minister Narendra Modi, who this stadium is known as after, up within the stands.
As an alternative, it resulted in crushing disappointment as Head produced one of many nice World Cup knocks and Australia ran out shock and comfy 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 have been contenders when this event started, with out being tipped by many to go the entire means, identical to once they received the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Their marketing campaign hit critical jitters early on with defeats of their opening two video games, first by India after which South Africa, however they’ve received the title with 9 consecutive victories, beating each staff within the event in a row.
On the finish, their gamers, together with England’s previous foes David Warner and Steve Smith, charged onto the sphere in celebration.
Australia could have received all of it earlier than, however this ranks as one in all 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 stored him of their squad, realizing 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 strain earlier than punishing the bowling.
After his opening accomplice Warner nicked the primary ball of the chase by means of 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 group was alive once more at that stage, though Smith’s lbw choice would have been overturned had he reviewed.
These wickets got here in a manic opening interval wherein India took the higher hand but additionally gave up 15 extras within the powerplay alone, these in blue seemingly too desperate to defend their low rating.
Batting grew to become simpler on a sluggish 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 type. As he left the sphere he was embraced by Labuschagne and was congratulated by the Indians with the consequence 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 choice to bowl first on the toss by Pat Cummins.
Captain Rohit Sharma gave India a fast 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 stored the scoring to a crawl by means of 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 surprised in silence. Rahul then nicked a magnificence from Starc, ending any actual hope of a major India rating.
India’s decrease order had hardly been wanted on this event, and when lastly known 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 doable time within the event, however large credit score should go to Cummins and his champion assault.