AUSTRALIA WINNING THE WORLD CUP FOR RECORD 6th TIME
Australia lifted their sixth World Cup trophy after defeating India by six wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Travis Head starred with the bat for the Aussies, scoring an unbeaten 137 off 120 balls to guide his team to the target of 241 with seven overs to spare. India, who had won all their nine matches in the tournament before the final, were bowled out for 240 in 50 overs after opting to bat first.
The match started with a bang as Rohit Sharma smashed 47 off 31 balls with four fours and three sixes to give India a flying start. However, Mitchell Starc struck twice in the ninth over to remove Rohit and Shubman Gill, who made just four. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then steadied the innings with a 50-run stand for the third wicket, but both fell in quick succession to Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins respectively. Kohli scored 54 off 63 balls, while Iyer managed only four.
India’s middle order failed to capitalise on the platform set by the top order, as wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. KL Rahul was the only batsman who showed some resistance, scoring 66 off 107 balls with one four. He added 45 runs for the sixth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja, who made nine. However, once Rahul was dismissed by Adam Zampa in the 43rd over, India’s hopes of posting a big total faded away. The lower order could not contribute much, as India were bowled out for 240 in the final over. Starc and Cummins were the pick of the bowlers for Australia, taking three and two wickets each. Zampa, Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood also chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Australia’s chase got off to a shaky start as David Warner was dismissed for seven by Jasprit Bumrah in the second over. However, Head and Mitchell Marsh then took charge of the innings, putting on a 113-run partnership for the second wicket. Head was the aggressor, hitting 15 fours and four sixes in his innings, while Marsh played a supporting role with 15 off 15 balls. Marsh was eventually caught by Kohli off Mohammed Shami in the 19th over, but Head continued his onslaught.
Steve Smith joined Head in the middle, but could not make much impact, scoring four off nine balls before falling to Bumrah in the 23rd over. Marnus Labuschagne then came to the crease and played a sensible knock of 58 off 110 balls, sharing a 118-run stand with Head for the fourth wicket. Labuschagne hit four fours in his innings and rotated the strike well with Head, who reached his century in the 35th over. The duo took Australia closer to the target, before Labuschagne was run out by Shami in the 41st over.
Glenn Maxwell then came out and finished the game with a boundary off Kuldeep Yadav in the 43rd over, as Australia reached 241 for four with 42 balls remaining. Head remained unbeaten on 137, his highest ODI score and his second century in the tournament. He was named the Player of the Match for his match-winning knock. Bumrah and Shami were the only wicket-takers for India, taking two wickets each. Kuldeep, Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj went wicketless and were expensive.
Australia’s captain Pat Cummins lifted the World Cup trophy amid loud cheers from the crowd and his teammates. He praised Head for his brilliant innings and also lauded his bowlers for restricting India to a modest total. He also congratulated India for their superb performance in the tournament and thanked the fans for their support. India’s captain Rohit Sharma expressed his disappointment at losing the final, but also appreciated his team’s efforts in reaching the final. He congratulated Australia for their deserved victory and thanked the fans for their love and support.
The World Cup final was watched by a record crowd of 132,000 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the largest cricket stadium in the world. The match was also broadcasted live on various platforms, reaching millions of viewers across the globe. The final was the culmination of a thrilling tournament that saw 10 teams compete for the coveted trophy. Australia emerged as the champions, while India finished as the runners-up. New Zealand and South Africa were the other semifinalists, while Pakistan, Afghanistan, England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Netherlands were eliminated in the league stage.
The World Cup also witnessed some memorable performances by individual players, who entertained the fans with their skills and talent. Here are some of the top performers of the tournament:
- Virat Kohli was the leading run-scorer of the tournament, scoring 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 85.00 and a strike rate of 93.29. He scored three centuries and four fifties, with a highest score of 152 not out against Sri Lanka.
- Mohammed Shami was the highest wicket-taker of the tournament, taking 24 wickets in seven matches at an average of 13.95 and an economy rate of 4.06. He took four five-wicket hauls, with a best of 7 for 57 against New Zealand.
- Rohit Sharma hit the most sixes in the tournament, smashing 31 sixes in 11 innings. He scored 597 runs in the tournament at an average of 59.70 and a strike rate of 108.32. He scored two centuries and three fifties, with a highest score of 147 against England.
- Glenn Maxwell scored the highest individual score of the tournament, scoring an unbeaten 201 off 103 balls against Afghanistan. He hit 14 fours and 16 sixes in his innings, which was also the fastest double century in ODI history. He scored 452 runs in the tournament at an average of 64.57 and a strike rate of 156.16. He also took 10 wickets at an average of 28.90 and an economy rate of 5.72.
- Daryl Mitchell took the most catches in the tournament, taking 11 catches in 10 matches. He also scored 552 runs in the tournament at an average of 61.33 and a strike rate of 97.53. He scored one century and four fifties, with a highest score of 134 against India.
The World Cup 2023 was a spectacular event that showcased the best of cricket and brought joy to millions of fans around the world. It was a celebration of the game and its spirit, and a tribute to the players and the fans who made it possible. Congratulations to Australia for winning the World Cup, and to India for putting up a great fight. Thank you for following the World Cup with us, and we hope you enjoyed the blog. Stay tuned for more cricket updates and news.