Head hammers hundred as Australia clinch record-scoring thriller v NZ

DHARAMSALA, India, Oct 28 (Reuters) – Travis Head’s speedy hundred trumped Rachin Ravindra’s gallant 116 as Australia survived late drama in opposition to New Zealand earlier than profitable the highest-scoring match in World Cup historical past by 5 runs to shut in on a semi-final spot on Saturday.

Head smashed 109 in his first match of the World Cup and solid a breakneck 175-run opening stand with David Warner (81) to propel Australia to a commanding 388 all out on the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Affiliation Stadium.

Ravindra led New Zealand’s spirited reply together with his second hundred of the match and Daryl Mitchell made 54 to maintain the 2019 runners-up within the hunt.

Australia regained management after Ravindra fell within the forty first over however James Neesham injected recent drama into the competition with a never-say-die 58 regardless that New Zealand ended simply in need of their goal on 383-9.

Needing 19 runs off Mitchell Starc’s remaining over, New Zealand milked 13 runs off the primary 4 respectable deliveries to maintain the warmth on Australia.

Neesham was run out on the fifth supply attempting to steal a second run, and Lockie Ferguson was unable to hit a six off the ultimate ball that may have sealed a memorable win for the Kiwis.

“That was superior,” Australia captain Pat Cummins mentioned after their fourth win in six matches.

“Generally I’ve to recollect I am out within the discipline, not a spectator. A unbelievable sport, they stored coming at us.”

Head had missed Australia’s first 5 matches with a fractured hand and he regarded decided to make up for the misplaced time, racing to a 25-ball fifty as he and Warner took Australia to the 150-mark within the fifteenth over.

Glenn Phillips broke the burgeoning stand by taking a return catch to dismiss Warner, however Head raced to a 59-ball century.

Phillips got here to New Zealand’s rescue once more breaching Head’s defence with a skidding supply to finish the batter’s 67-ball blitz, which was studded with seven sixes and 10 fours.

Glenn Maxwell (41) and Josh Inglis (38) produced breezy cameos and skipper Pat Cummins clobbered 4 sixes in his 37 off 14 balls earlier than Australia collapsed with 4 balls left of their innings.

New Zealand had been uncharacteristically sloppy within the discipline, dropping 5 catches, with Head the beneficiary on two events.

Devon Conway (28) and Will Younger (32) gave New Zealand a speedy begin however Josh Hazlewood eliminated each in successive overs to peg them again.

Ravindra and Mitchell steadied the innings enjoying wise cricket.

Ravindra introduced up his 77-ball hundred with a six off Maxwell and it was due to his stellar knock that New Zealand entered the ultimate 10 overs of their innings assured of scoring the required 97 runs for victory.

Cummins eliminated Ravindra within the forty second over however Neesham produced a belligerent 58 to maintain the competition alive.

New Zealand wanted 19 off the ultimate over from Starc, who conceded a single off the primary supply earlier than bowling a large down the leg facet which ran to the boundary.

Needing 13 off 5 balls, Neesham squeezed six runs of the subsequent three deliveries earlier than being run out.

That left Ferguson with the job of hitting the ultimate supply for six, however he drilled it straight to the duvet fielder as an alternative.

“It was a unbelievable sport of cricket,” New Zealand captain Tom Latham mentioned.

“There have been ebbs and flows all through the 100 overs. Clearly to get so shut hurts.”

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