What a thrilling game of cricket between Australia vs New Zealand. It’s an absolute eye-feast and a much-needed one for this tournament. In an ideal scenario, chasing 389 – you need someone from the top 3 to get a big score, a cameo from a couple of batters, and a decent start. New Zealand has all of it but still needs to get past the finish line.
Australia vs New Zealand: Australia Inning Highlights
The explosive performance of Australian batters Travis Head and David Warner helped Australia pile up a huge 388 after New Zealand invited them to bat first. The pair smashed boundaries right from the start and had 118/0 by the end 1st Powerplay. Head took just 25 deliveries to complete his half-century. Warner was also just a little behind, taking 28 balls to reach the milestone. Glenn Phillips removed Warner after 81 runs (65). He then removed Head for 109 (67).
Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh were unable to maintain the momentum. This gave New Zealand a chance for a late comeback. Glenn Maxwell’s blitz shifted momentum back to Australia, and then Pat Cummins & Josh Inglish continued hitting boundaries like crazy. Maxwell scored 41(24), Inglish 38(28), and Cummins 37(14).
Australia vs New Zealand: New Zealand Inning Highlights
Will Young and Devon Conway gave New Zealand an excellent start to the chase of 389 against Australia at the World Cup match in Dharamsala on Saturday. Josh Hazlewood removed Conway after the pair had added 61 runs over 7.2 balls. Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell formed a strong partnership shortly after Hazlewood removed Young. This helped New Zealand to remain in the race for runs. Mitchell and Ravindra added 96 runs to the third wicket before being out by Zampa.
Ravindra added another 50-plus with Tom Latham, but Zampa again stopped New Zealand’s momentum when he removed the Kiwi captain at 21(22). Rachin is still going strong in the middle and is batting into his 80s.
Rachin Ravindra scored the century of his career. He ensured the Kiwis matched Australia’s (292/5) score at the end of 40 overs. Phillips and Latham were both dismissed in quick succession, while there was no set batter for the final nine overs.
James Neesham was the Turning Point In Chase of Australia vs New Zealand
James Neesham’s innings came to an end in an unfortunate run-out. Neesham had been a key figure in New Zealand’s chase, displaying remarkable composure and striking at an impressive rate of 148.72 runs per 100 balls. His dynamic performance was instrumental in keeping New Zealand’s hopes alive. Still, he was eventually run out due to a combination of quick fielding and accurate throws by Marnus Labuschagne and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis. Neesham’s dismissal marked a turning point in the match, as New Zealand fell short by just five runs in a high-stakes encounter.
However, some brilliant bowling by the Australians, notably Hazlewood, Starc, Cummins, Zampa, and Maxwell, kept the pressure on throughout New Zealand’s innings. They took crucial wickets at crucial times, preventing New Zealand from running away with the game.
The 50th-Over Thriller: New Zealand Falls Short by 5 Runs
The final over of the match proved to be an absolute nail-biter. With Trent Boult on strike, Mitchell Starc was tasked with defending the 18 runs required by New Zealand to secure victory. The crowd was in a frenzy, and all eyes were on the pitch for this heart-stopping climax.
The First Ball: Starc’s first delivery to Boult resulted in a quick single. Boult, with his hustle, managed to keep the strike for the next ball, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
The Second Ball: With James Neesham now facing, the tension was palpable. starc’s second ball was wide and ran to four, i.e., five runs.
The Second, Third, and Fourth Balls: Starc, known for his precision under pressure, managed to claw back with the second, third, and fourth deliveries, conceding only six runs from 3 balls. With just two balls left in the match, New Zealand needed nine runs to secure a miraculous victory.
The fifth Ball: In a final act of desperation, Neesham sprinted for a double, hoping to keep New Zealand’s hopes alive. But in a cruel twist of fate, he was run out, leaving the Kiwis needing an improbable 6 runs from the final ball.
The Last Ball Drama: As the tension peaked, New Zealand sent in their last hope, Lokie Ferguson. However, Starc held his nerve, delivering a dot ball that dashed New Zealand’s hopes. The Australian team celebrated as they emerged victorious by the slimmest of margins, winning by just 5 runs.
Also Read: AUSTRALIA VS NETHERLANDS: MAXWELL HISTORIC 40-BALL CENTURY
