Head Stars As Australia Clinch Sixth World Cup Title

Travis Head’s unbeaten 137 helps Australia to yet another World Cup win, as they defeat India in the Final by six wickets in Ahmedabad.

The hosts were coming into the final, having won 10 out of 10 games in this tournament, followed by a comprehensive 70-run win in the semi-final, Australia who at one stage looked like going out of the Round Robin stage had won eight straight games, after losing their opening two games against Rohit Sharma’s side, and South Africa.

The toss was set to be one of the crucial factors of the Final, and it was Pat Cummins who won the toss and made a brave decision to put India into bat.

The Indian Captain got the hosts off to a brisk start.

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But they lost Shubman Gill at 30-1.

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Sharma continued to attack.

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But he went for one shot too many and was caught by Head for 47, with India 76-2.

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Shreyas Iyer could not get going as he was caught behind by Josh Inglis to Cummins for four at 81-3.

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KL Rahul and Virat Kohli tried to get the hosts back on track, with a partnership of 67 from 17.1 overs.

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But after reaching 50, the former Indian Captain chopped one onto his stumps, at 148-4.

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And when India lost Jadeja on 178-5, and Rahul on 206-6, 240 was never going to be enough.

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But Mohammed Shami gave them an early boost, dismissing Warner for 7 at 16-1.

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Bumrah got Marsh got Mitchell Marsh caught behind for 15, at 42-2,

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And when Steve Smith decide not to review his LBW decision at 47-3, this gave India hope of getting back into the match.

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But Head’s century.

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And Marnus Labuschagne’s 58 of 42 was enough to get Australia over the line.

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It was a clinical performance by an Australian who looked hungry for another World Cup success.

Post-Match Reaction

Captains

“We were not good enough today but I’m really proud of the team and how we played from game one. We tried everything we could from our side but it wasn’t supposed to be. “We were looking at 270 or 280 but then we kept losing wickets. We couldn’t get a partnership together and that is exactly what Australia did to win the game, they stitched a good partnership after they lost three wickets.”

Sharma: BBC Sport

“We saved our best for last and a couple of big-match players stood up and we’re pretty chuffed. “We were desperate in the field, I thought it all started against South Africa last week. The boys were fantastic. We’ve got an ageing squad but we are still throwing ourselves around. We were really chuffed with 240 because we were happy with anything under 300.”

Cummins: BBC Sport

Man Of The Match

“Not in a million years did I think that would happen [being man of the match today and in the World Test Championship final]. What an amazing day. I’m just thrilled to be a part of it. “It is a lot better than being sat on the couch at home! I’m very lucky that everything went well and I was able to get back and the support that the boys showed, I didn’t think this would happen. I was nervous in the first 20 balls but Marnus [Labuschagne] batted brilliantly and it is great to bat with him. It was an amazing partnership.”

Head: BBC Sport

It was a magnificent performance from an Australian team,. who were just too good at all three aspects of the game, especially in the field.

As for India, they can also hold their heads high for such a great tournament, but their timidness with the bat was what let them down in the final, especially Rahul’s 66 off 107.

If he had been prepared to rotate the strike or even risk getting out while playing shots, Australia may have been chasing a score of 270-280, which may have been a bit more challenging.

But give credit to Pat Cummins’s men, who have just been superb in the latter stages of this tournament. winning the nation’s sixth World Cup in a country that is alien to you in terms of conditions is a tremendous achievement, especially after the start they had, and surely they will cherish it.

For more information on Australia’s World Cup win, visit World in Sport.