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Australia secures their sixth World Cup victory, setting a new record in CWC23.
- The upcoming match between Australia and New Zealand at the One-Day International Cricket World Cup is highly anticipated, with both teams vying for a top-four position. Australia’s recent performances, including a record-breaking victory against the Netherlands, have signaled a return to form for the five-time champions. Despite stumbling at the start of the tournament, Australia has bounced back with three consecutive wins and is currently in fourth place, just one spot behind New Zealand.
- While New Zealand has an impressive record in the competition, Australia has historically held the upper hand in World Cup matches, with eight wins and three losses in 11 encounters. The team boasts a strong track record in the Trans-Tasman rivalry, and their recent performance against the Netherlands has showcased their potential. However, they still aim for more consistency, especially from middle-order stalwarts like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.
- David Warner has been in formidable form, with 332 runs and two consecutive centuries, but the team will look for greater contributions from players like Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green. In the bowling department, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and captain Pat Cummins have performed well but hope to fine-tune their skills further. Adam Zampa, who secured a four-wicket haul against the Netherlands, has been a key player for Australia. With both teams eager to secure a top-four position, the upcoming match promises to be an exciting one.
Travis Head, who is making a comeback after an injury, is set to strengthen Australia’s top order. It will be crucial for the team to manage the playing eleven and maintain the right balance. On the other hand, New Zealand’s winning streak was interrupted by India’s four-wicket victory. However, the Kiwis remain confident in their ability to adapt to Indian conditions. In the absence of Kane Williamson, Devon Conway and Tom Latham will play important roles in New Zealand’s batting lineup. Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra will be responsible for shouldering the middle-order responsibilities. The match promises an exciting showdown between two leading wicket-takers in the tournament, Adam Zampa from Australia and Mitchell Santner from New Zealand. New Zealand’s pacers, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson, have been effective, while veteran Trent Boult aims to elevate his game. The fourth morning start game is expected to be played on a batting-friendly surface, setting the stage for an intense clash in the World Cup.
Australia and New Zealand rivalry is renewed in a Himalayan setting at the Cricket World Cup
The serious end of the Cricket World Cup begins for Australia and New Zealand on Saturday in a Himalayan setting for their trans-Tasman clash — the final game of the tournament at Dharamsala.
Both teams have played five games — New Zealand is placed third with eight points from four wins and trails second-place South Africa on net run-rate. Australia has won three out of five games and is placed fourth with six points.
For New Zealand, it marks the beginning of a tough run of games. After Australia, it takes on South Africa (Nov. 2), Pakistan (Nov. 4) and Sri Lanka (Nov. 9). All of its final four opponents are still in the running for a semifinal spot.
In the absence of Kane Williamson and Tim Southeee, the Black Caps did well to win its first four games against England, the Netherlands, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. It then lost to India in Dharamsala, and it wasn’t a one-sided game as the hosts were made to work hard in the 274-run chase.
Given the topsy-turvy nature of results in this tournament, including three shock upsets so far, New Zealand will need at least two more wins in its remaining four games to guarantee a top-four spot.
Southee had been available for selection for the last game, but New Zealand opted to go in with its settled bowling attack. Pacer Lockie Ferguson has picked eight wickets in four games and has proved the best of New Zealand’s attack in overs 11-40.
With Williamson still a doubtful starter, New Zealand isn’t expected to make any changes. Its biggest question isn’t regarding personnel — instead, it is about rebounding from the loss against India and gearing up for a tough run-in leading to the semfinals.
Australia’s David Warner leaps to celebrate scoring a century during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match between Australia and Netherlands in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Credit: AP/Manish Swarup
Australia has turned its tournament around after a poor start, losing to India and South Africa in its opening games. It was even placed 10th on the table at one stage. Since then, the five-time champions have made a remarkable recovery in terms of points and form.
Its revival started against Sri Lanka — Australia won in Lucknow by five wickets. Then, it beat Pakistan by 62 runs on a good batting surface in Bengaluru. It was a vital win for Australia, constructed by fine hundreds from openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh. Thereafter, it trounced the Netherlands by a record 309 runs — a win that helped its net run-rate go from negative 0.193 to positive 1.142.
Glenn Maxwell’s fastest hundred in World Cups was key to Australia’s run-rate recovery, but it was Warner again who laid the benchmark with a second consecutive hundred. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne also scored fluent half-centuries, easing concerns over a problematic middle order.
Arguably the single biggest turning point for Australia’s World Cup campaign is Adam Zampa’s return to form. The wrist spinner has picked up 12 wickets in the last three games — all of them four-wicket hauls. Zampa leads the tournament’s bowling charts with 13 wickets.
Australia’s David Warner leaves the ground after losing his wicket during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match between Australia and Netherlands in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Credit: AP/Manish Swarup
“New Zealand are a really good side. We have a big game coming up in Dharamsala … we can’t wait to get there and play a World Cup match there,” said Australia captain Pat Cummins.
As was the case with the previous four games, conditions at the Dharamsala stadium will again be under the spotlight. There is no danger of fog stopping play — it is a day game.
“This is a beautiful place to play cricket. You look up at the mountains and it looks amazing,” said Black Caps’ Daryl Mitchell after the India game.
Australia hold off New Zealand for victory in Cricket World Cup classic
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p class=”dcr-1dpfw7k”>Australia are closing in on a World Cup semi-final berth after a pulsating five-run win over New Zealand, who came perilously close to pulling off the biggest successful run chase in World Cup history.
Australia appeared in the box seat after an 175-run opening partnership from the newly fit Travis Head and an in-form David Warner propelled them to a formidable total of 388 in Dharamshala. But a second World Cup century from Rachin Ravindra (116) kept the Black Caps on track, before their last recognised batter Jimmy Neesham (58 off 39 balls) stepped up for a furious cameo.
Neesham, only called in as an injury replacement for Mark Chapman, was tasked with scoring 19 runs from the final over to seal a famous victory and once again put Australia’s knockout hopes in doubt. Mitchell Starc bowled a wide from his second delivery, which slipped past wicketkeeper Josh Inglis for four more.
The potentially costly mistake improved the Kiwis’ equation from 18 runs off five balls to only 13 from as many, and the Black Caps lifted from the dugout. But the Australians put their bodies on the line in the field as the final over intensified and the Kiwis were unable to find the boundary.
Neesham was made to pay as he attempted to scramble back for a second run after hitting Starc’s penultimate delivery to deep midwicket, run out by Josh Inglis at the striker’s end. From there, Australia were home, the paceman Lockie Ferguson unable to hit the six required off the final ball.
After beginning the India-based tournament with consecutive defeats, Pat Cummins’ side have won four games in a row and will likely make the knockout stage even if they lose one more. Australia will now start favourites in their three remaining group-stage games against an out-of-sorts England as well as Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
In his first hit-out since breaking his hand six weeks ago and as a World Cup debutant, Head (109) partnered with the red-hot Warner (81) to punish the Kiwis for sending Australia in to bat. Their partnership, posted at a run-rate of 9.13, was the fastest for an opening pair scoring more than 150 runs in an ODI. It eclipsed Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy’s 159-run stand against Pakistan in Bristol in 2019 (9.08).
Travis Head tees off for Australia. Photograph: Money Sharma/AFP/Getty Images
The Kiwi quick Matt Henry (one for 67) unwittingly kickstarted Head’s superb innings with two back-to-back no-balls in the third over. Head smacked both free hits for six on his way to posting the fastest half-century of the tournament (50 off 25 balls). Warner, for his part, was 19 runs short of becoming the first Australian in history to post a century in three consecutive ODIs.
The part-time off-spinner Glenn Phillips (three for 37) was pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis, who took five for 99 after the opening onslaught to prevent what could have been an astronomical score. It took deploying spin to slow the Australians down and Phillips had the breakthrough the Kiwis were after when he caught Warner from his own bowling in the 20th over.
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Just as Australia did to the Kiwi quicks, Ravindra took advantage of a Dharamshala wicket that offered little for the world-class Australia pace attack. He brought his century up by belting Glenn Maxwell over deep midwicket for six and was given an extra life shortly thereafter, dropped by a gutted Maxwell from his own bowling.
Adam Zampa (three for 74) helped ensure Ravindra was never able to form a steady partnership, dispatching of the dangerous Daryl Mitchell (54) and later moving atop the ladder for most wickets this tournament (16).
Late cameos from Cummins (37 off 14 balls) and Maxwell (41 off 24) reinvigorated the Australians in their innings and were vital after the run chase proved unexpectedly close.
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