World Cup 2023 | Rachin's Century in Vain As Head, Warner Star In Narrow Win Vs NZ

Travis Head and David Warner against NZ at the 2023 World Cup (AP)

Brief Scores: Australia: 388 all out (49.2 overs) [Travis Head: 109 (67), David Warner: 81 (65); Glenn Phillips 3/37 (10), Trent Boult 3/77 (10)] defeated New Zealand: 383-9 (50 overs) [Rachin Ravindra: 116 (89), James Neesham: 58 (39); Adam Zampa 3/74 (10), Pat Cummins 2/66 (10)] by five runs.

Australia kept Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand five runs away from their target to stretch their newfound World Cup 2023 winning run to four matches.

Travis Head’s comeback ton take AUS to 388

Australian openers David Warner and Travis Head blazed their way to a 19-over 175-run stand at the top, where the latter of the two slapped a 59-ball record century in his comeback game. Warner was eventually caught-and-bowled by Glenn Phillips for 81, while Head top-scored in the innings with a turbulent 67-ball 109.

After Australia’s run-riot in the first half of the innings, Phillips kept the run-scoring in check by bowling out his quota of overs on the trot. Moreover, the part-timer also cleaned up Head and dismissed a well-set Steve Smith to finish his spell with 3-37.

While Philips conceded just 37 runs from his 10 overs, Australia accumulated 351 runs from the remaining 40 as they ended up amassing a colossal 388 upfront. Glenn Maxwell and captain Pat Cummins unleashed thunderous cameos at the death before tearaway Kiwi speedster Trent Boult polished off the tail with an expensive three-fer.

Rachin, Neesham fight on but fail to keep up

In pursuit of a target 45 runs greater than World Cup history’s highest successful run-chase, New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Will Young adopted an aggressive powerplay approach at the outset. The duo raced to 61 in just a little over seven overs before both were dismissed in succession to become Josh Hazlewood’s only victims of the evening.

In-form batter and experimental number three Rachin Ravindra justified his promotion up the order yet again by forging 116 regal runs from his end off just 89 deliveries. The all-rounder smoked five sixes and nine boundaries in his innings and shared counterattacking run-chase stands with captain Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips and half-centurion Daryl Mitchell.

Adam Zampa struck thrice in the middle overs, and his spell reduced New Zealand to 320-7 at one stage. Timely wickets from captain Pat Cummins also assisted Australia’s cause before Kiwi all-rounder James Neesham punched out three sixes and three boundaries to bring the equation down to the final over.

Wicketless Mitchell Starc stuttered with five wides, but sensational boundary fielding and tight bowling kept Neesham-led New Zealand’s response down by five runs of Australia’s total.

The latest win continues Australia’s World Cup 2023 uprising, as they strengthened their claim as one of the top four sides on the points table.

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