Rachin Ravindra, Jimmy Neesham's Heroics in Vain as Australia Down New Zealand by 5 Runs in High-Scoring Thriller

Rachin Ravindra scored a century while Jimmy Neesham played a valiant knock of 58 runs but Australia defeated New Zealand by 5 runs in a high-scoring thriller at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Saturday. 781 runs were scored in total in the match, the highest ever in a World Cup game, the Kiwis lost their second consecutive game in the the tournament. Earlier, Daryl Mitchell had also scored a fifty to take the Black Caps to 383/9, but they fell short by an agonisingly close margin, chasing Australia’s total of 389.

Earlier, Travis Head scored the fastest century by an opener in World Cup history, while David Warner slammed 81 runs in 65 balls to give the Aussies a spectacular start, they ended up scoring 388 before getting all out.

Trent Boult and Glenn Phillips both picked up three wickets each while Mitchell Santner got two scalps to restrict the Australian side below 400.

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New Zealand almost scalped the mountain, nearly recording the most successful chase in World Cup history, but they fell short by five runs after a valiant display although the clinical Aussies picked up their fourth consecutive in in the ODI World Cup 2023.

This was after Travis Head made an explosive entry into the tournament with a blazing 109 off 67 balls as Australia went on a run rampage and had reached 360-6 in 47 overs.

Head, who recovered from a fractured thumb, and David Warner smashed New Zealand pace bowlers with an aggressive 175-run opening wicket stand off 117 balls.

There were valuable contributions from Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, and skipper Cummins himself, the trio added some much-needed 90 runs combined which ultimately helped the Aussies prevail in the trans-tasmanian faceoff.

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In reply, Rachin Ravindra scored his second World Cup century and almost helped his team chase down the tall target in an epic last game of the tournament at Dharamsala.

New Zealand finished with 383-9 in 50 overs, with Ravindra scoring 116 off 89 balls. It stays third in the points’ table with eight points, but ahead of Australia on net run-rate — also on eight points.

With agency inputs.