AFP | Ahmedabad
Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Opener Travis Head smashed a scintillating 137 to seal a six-wicket victory over India in Ahmedabad on Sunday, giving Australia a record-extending sixth World Cup win.
Australia, who had been chasing victory with a difficult score of 241 in the final, fell back to 47 wins and 3 losses, but left-handed Head hit his second century of the tournament and took his team home with seven overs remaining.
The header’s knock and a marathon record 192 against Marnus Labuschagne, unbeaten in 58 matches, ended India’s commanding 10-match unbeaten run in the tournament.
Heads bowed after 15 fours and four sixes in a 120-ball knock before Glenn Maxwell hit the winning bat. It sparked wild celebrations in the Australian camp.
The head man of the match told Star Sports: “I’m really excited to be joining.”
“It’s much better than watching the (injured) World Cup from your couch at home. I was a little nervous, but Marnus played very well and absorbed all the pressure.”
Any chance of India ending their global trophy drought since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013 has disappeared with Head partnering Labuschagne.
Head’s century was his seventh World Cup final, making him the third Australian player after Ricky Ponting (140 not out against India in 2003) and Adam Gilchrist (149 not out against Sri Lanka in 2007).
The bowlers set up victory for the Australian side as Mitchell Starc (3-55) and Pat Cummins (2-34) beat India for 240, bouncing back from two defeats to make it nine consecutive wins.
India fought back as Mohammed Shami shared the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah and hit his second shot to put David Warner seven points behind.
However, Mitchell Marsh scored 15 points and Steve Smith LBW scored 4 points to take the lead, and it was Bumrah’s back-to-back doubles that raised the ceiling.
Despite captain Rohit Sharma rotating the bowlers to find a breakthrough, Head stood firm along with Labuschagne and thwarted the Indian attack.
~ “Unbelievable” results ~
Head suffered a broken hand in September’s tournament in South Africa and was doubtful he would be able to play in the World Cup, but Australia kept him in the team until he was fit to play.
He hit the winning tally in the team’s sixth league match against New Zealand and, after some low scores, scored an attacking 62 in the team’s tense semi-final three-wicket win over South Africa in Kolkata.
He became India’s nemesis for the second time this year after his 163 sealed Australia’s World Test Championship victory at the Oval in June.
Head reached 100 in 95 pitches and swung his bat to the applause of the Australian locker room.
“What we accomplished today is incredible,” Labuschagne said.
“This is the best achievement I’ve ever been a part of. India are the winning team in the tournament, but we know we have a chance if we play our best cricket. Our bowlers are sensational; Travis gave a great performance.” ”
Warner said: “Our bowlers were great. They set the tone from the first ball and the fielding supported that.”
Australia chose to bat first and the players backed up Cummins’ decision with disciplined bowling and impressive fielding.
After Rohit’s 47, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul scored 54 and 66 respectively, but the ball dominated the bat on a slow and dry pitch.
Head took a brilliant catch on his way back running from cover point to shorten Rohit’s innings against spinner Maxwell.
Cummins bowled Kohli, who finished as the tournament’s leading batsman with 765 runs, silencing the crowd of 92,453 fans. Just like the home team in Central, it was an unforgettable day.