Australia edge New Zealand by five runs in record World Cup epic in Dharamshala

Five-time world champions Australia edged out unbeaten New Zealand by just five points in the biggest World Cup match in history on Saturday.

Australia amassed a total of 388 as Travis Head scored 109 and partner David Warner made 81. New Zealand put up a tough fight with Rachin Ravindra making 116, Daryl Mitchell adding 54 and Jimmy Neesham providing the spark early on with a 33-ball fifty before finishing on 383-9 in 50 overs.

Warner, who turned 37 on Friday, was looking for a third consecutive century but eventually fell for 81 when he was caught behind by Phillips.

Phillips then replaced Steve Smith taking best figures of 3-37 before compatriot Mitchell Santner got into the act. Santner beat the defense of Mitchell Marsh and the left-armer and dismissed Labuschagne when the batsman was dropped for one.

Neesham had dangerous middle-order Glenn Maxwell caught at long-on by Trent Boult for 24-ball 41. Maxwell had come into the match having smashed a World Cup record 40 balls against the Netherlands. Josh Inglis raced to a 28-ball 38, putting on 62 for the seventh wicket with skipper Pat Cummins.
In reply, New Zealand, runners-up in the last two World Cups, saw Will Young and Devon Conway put on 61 for the first wicket before both fell to Josh Hazlewood.

Mitchell reached his third fifty of the tournament to follow up his last 130 against India, but fell on 54 when leg-spinner Adam Zampa kept him at long-on with his side at 168-3 after 24 overs. Mitchell put on 96 for the third wicket with Ravindra.

Ravindra, who scored 123 in their first win over England, reached three figures in 77 balls with four fours and five sixes. But with New Zealand needing 97 off 60 balls, Australian skipper Pat Cummins caught Ravindra in the deep for a solid 116.
That left the Kiwis on 293-6, but they fought hard to take the game to the final with a thrilling finish.

With a total of 771, he was the highest scorer in the World Cup, scoring 754 runs in South Africa's first win over Sri Lanka in the tournament. "It's good. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm on the pitch, not a spectator. It was a good game, they were attacking us," Australian skipper Pat Cummins said.

In a dramatic final played in the shadow of the Himalayas. Trent Boult runs for one before Mitchell Starc delivers five wides.

Neesham, one of the stars of New Zealand's 2019 final win over England, then bowled the next six balls. However, after two more attempts, he was eliminated following a wonderful shot by Marnus Labuschagne from the fence.

This forced Lockie Ferguson, who had injured his Achilles on the field, to play the hero in the last ball. Starc took the ball to length and Ferguson was able to push it to cover, leaving the Kiwis heartbroken.
“It was a beautiful game of cricket. There was chaos and flow in the 100 overs," New Zealand captain Tom Latham said.
“Getting close, it hurts. It's a beautiful game."

The result leaves both teams with four wins and two defeats each and is well placed for the semi-finals.

Earlier, Head, playing his first match of the tournament after being sidelined with a broken hand, reached his fourth one-day international with 59 balls containing 10 fours and six sixes. The 29-year-old has regained his 50 off 28 balls and took advantage of his slump in 70 and 75.

Glenn Phillips later dismissed him, as Australia reached 206-2 at the halfway mark. With Warner, Head had put on 175 in the first 20 before his partner was dismissed.