Australia edged past New Zealand in a nail-biter as they won 5 runs in a high-scoring encounter since both the teams scored over 350 runs in 100 overs. Australia‘s acrobatic fielding was the difference in the end as the surface hardly had anything in it for the bowlers.
New Zealand have won the toss and they have opted to bowl first against Australia at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Travis Head was in the playing 11 and as hinted by the Aussie skipper the other day, Steve Smith will move to number four as Mitchell Marsh vacated the opening spot for the southpaw.
This was absolute carnage. Australia stubborn insistence to bring Head to India, even if he was injured for the first half of the tournament, which seems to be paying off instantly This was a dream start for Australia.
The boundaries are flowing at will during the first 20 overs Warner through timing and field manipulation. Head through pure brawn it’s a memorable comeback for him.
Travis Head and David Warner 175 partnership takes Australia to 388.
Finally, the opening partnership of 175 runs has been broken as Warner trying to break the deadlock planted his front foot and lifted it above the bowler, Philips was equal to it, stood his ground took a catch departed for a brilliant 81 off just 65 balls with 5 fours and 6 sixes.
Head scored a brilliant century before departing for a well-made 109 off just 67 balls with 10 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 162.69.
Maxwell got hold of a couple of balls to tonk them for six but Tom Latham’s bowling changes, and New Zealand’s balance between spine and seam, allowed them to curb Maxwell departed after skiing a ball he didn’t get a hold of, and getting caught at long-off for 41 runs off just 24 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes.
Pat Cummins played a brilliant cameo by scoring 34 off 17 balls to guide them to 388 in 50 overs Glen Philip is the pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis with 3 vital wickets and finishes with the figures of 3 for 37 in his 10 overs.
Santner made a fantastic comeback in the second spell picking 2 wickets and finishing with the figures of 2 for 80 in his 10 overs
Trend Boult too made a statement come back in his final two overs rattles through the Australian lower order as he finished with figures of 3 for 77 in his 10 overs. Australia got all out for 388 in 49.2 overs
Zampa and bowlers edge out New Zealand
Hazlewood baits Conway into slog-sweeping with third man in the circle. Conway was furious with himself after a strong start. Brilliant catch from Starc. Conway departs for 28 off 17 balls with 6 fours.
Singles, doubles and odd boundaries. Ravindra and Mitchell are shoring things up in the middle order but that’s not enough without acceleration, given the mammoth total in front of them.
With scoreboard pressure rising, Mitchell looked to cut a loose, short-ish ball before mistiming and guiding it straight to Starc at long-on departing for a well-made 54 off.51 with 6 fours and six the partnership of 96 runs comes to an end.
Rachin Ravindra scored a brilliant century and did some sensible batting before departing for 116 off just 89 balls with 9 fours and 5 sixes.
Adam Zampa is the pick of the bowlers for Australia with the figures of 3 for 74 in his 10 overs. Hazlewood also chipped in with 2 vital wickets finishing with 2 for 70. Neesham scored a fantastic 58 off just 39 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes almost won the game for the Kiwis but got run out in the final over.