Australia 388 (Head 109, Warner 81, Phillips 3-37, Boult 3-77). New Zealand 383 for 9 (Ravindra 116, Neesham 58, Mitchell 54, Zampa 3-74) with five runs
In the foothills of the world’s highest peaks, Dharamsala hosted the highest-scoring World Cup match of all time when Australia beat New Zealand in a 771-run thriller that reached dizzying heights and records galore. Travis Head delivered a stunning 59-ball century performance as he and David Warner smashed 118 runs in the opening powerplay and shared a stunning opening stand of 175 runs to support Australia’s mountainous 388, becoming the first team in the ODI -History were those who scored three consecutive points over 350. But Rachin Ravindra scored a stunning 77-ball century of his own while Daryl Mitchell continued his love affair with Dharamsala, making 54 to give New Zealand a chance to pull off their highest ever ODI chase. In the end it was left to James Neesham, like in the 2019 World Cup final, and like then, with an outstanding 58 from 39 balls, he was just one shot away from stealing the game. But he ended up like his Lord partner Martin Guptill, cutting a forlorn figure face-first on the pitch after being dropped off the penultimate ball. Mitchell Starc, who had been picked on everywhere, held his nerve on the final ball, denying Lockie Ferguson the six he needed and giving Australia an important two points. Starc could very easily have been the villain for Australia. New Zealand needed 43 from 18 balls with two wickets in hand. Starc and Josh Hazlewood missed their targets. Trent Boult received personal redemption for 2019 when Marnus Labuschagne was on the ropes at long-on to give him six runs. Starc had 19 players to play at the start of the final over, but was only allowed four players outside the circle due to Australia’s slow over rate. He delivered five wides on the second ball, reducing the tally to 13 from five. But he hit his yorkers as Neesham couldn’t find the rope and the Australian sweepers made some great saves before Labuschagne and Josh Inglis combined to drive Neesham off the penultimate ball. In a batter-dominated game, Adam Zampa proved decisive for Australia with 3 for 74, including the key wickets of Mitchell, Tom Latham and Mitchell Santner. But he wasn’t the best bowler in the game. Glenn Phillips delivered a stunning career best of 3 for 37 for New Zealand, including 30 dot balls, single-handedly dragging his side back into the contest after Head and Warner threatened to kill them in 13 overs of carnage after Australia were sent into the game was a thug.
Travis Head’s wrist was wrapped in a bandage on the pitch•ICC/Getty Images
Head justified the Australian selection’s gamble by keeping him in Australia’s 15-man squad, even though he was unavailable for the first five games. Head and Warner reached dizzying heights in the Himalayan air with a ferocious batting display that broke New Zealand’s in-form fast bowlers mind, body and soul, while Ferguson suffered a hamstring injury after three overs for 38. Head hit 109 off 67 balls while Warner hit 81 off 65.
The pair treated bowling on the magnificent batting strip with utter disdain. Warner was brutal at everything short, reaching 50 off just 28 balls in the third innings in a row. Head looked like he’d never been away, even though he’d barely picked up a bat for six weeks. He smashed it all down, reaching 50 from 25 balls, which was Australia’s second-fastest ever in the tournament and the fastest of any World Cup debutant.
Phillips’ introduction in the 14th over changed the game. Australia were 144 for 0 but he immediately pinned Warner down with flawless lines and lengths. He never gave away the stumps, rarely overturned or fell short. Warner had scored 65 off 36 but managed to score just 16 from his last 29 deliveries, including eight off Phillips, before taking a return catch in the 20th over.
While the spin stalled Warner, Head carried on fearlessly. He had some luck. He was dropped twice, once on 70 by Santner, who leapt full-length to his right from his own bowling, and once on 75 by Phillips, who was standing close to midwicket when Head hammered a full-blooded pull shot .
Josh Inglis outpaced James Neesham and left New Zealand needing six runs off the last ball•ICC/Getty Images
Head raced to his century in 59 balls, the fastest of all World Cup opening balls. But he too was deceived by Phillips, playing to a fuller, faster ball and losing his middle stump.
Then there was Australia’s usual middle-order stumble. Mitchell Marsh struggled badly after being moved back to No.3 following Head’s return. His lack of batting rotation led to Steven Smith agitatingly holed out to mid-off by Phillips. Labuschagne also struggled. The pair had Phillips bowl 30 dot balls in his 10 overs and scored just 54 off 77 balls before both fell to Santner.
Australia appeared to have wasted the good work of Warner and Head until Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis and Pat Cummins hit 11 fours and seven sixes in the death overs, helping Australia to an impressive score of 388. Maxwell was great again, scoring close to 41 off 24 balls. Inglis managed 38 from 28 and Cummins 37 from just 14 with four outstanding hits. But both were aided by some uncharacteristic drops from New Zealand’s outfielders.
Australia were 387 for 6 with two overs to go but lost 4 for 1 and were bowled out with four balls remaining, with Trent Boult taking three wickets in one over. It didn’t seem like a problem at the time, but it almost proved costly.
Rachin Ravindra managed a top performance off just 77 balls•AFP/Getty Images
New Zealand started their comeback well, but could not keep up with Australia’s power play fireworks. Devon Conway and Will Young both looked to be in great form but neither were able to capitalize on their impressive starts, with Hazlewood winning both thanks to Starc’s great catching.
Ravindra struggled for rhythm early on but Mitchell pulled him along in his slipstream during another sensational half-century in which he reached 42 balls. Mitchell treated Zampa and Starc with equal disdain and looked every bit the world-class batsman he has become. But Zampa had the last laugh and forced a fumble, leaving Mitchell caught at long-on.
Ravindra started driving when Mitchell fell. He shared a half-century stand with Latham and a 43-run stand with Phillips. Ravindra raced from 50 to 100 in just 28 balls. It was only at 45 that he had hit a six, and then he hit five to get to three figures, all as pure as the mountain air. He was dropped by Maxwell shortly after reaching three figures, but it didn’t cost much as he was eliminated shortly after.
But his innings brought New Zealand close to a record chase as they had the same score as Australia with ten overs to go. Neesham kept his cool as Australia lost their own. Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins all missed the target, while Neesham and the Tail found the boundary at will.
With Matt Henry removed, New Zealand needed 43 from 18 before chaos ensued. But Australia held on and strengthened their chances in the semi-finals, while New Zealand were left to rue another defeat in Dharamsala.
Alex Malcolm is an Associate Editor at ESPNcricinfo