‘Kya match tha mazza aagaya‘ – Fans react as Australia beat New Zealand by 5 runs in ODI World Cup 2023

Australia and New Zealand played one of the best games of the ODI World Cup 2023 so far. Pat Cummins and his side held their nerves to win the game by 5 runs to register their fourth win of the tournament. Over 750 runs were scored as the game in Dharamshala went down to the wire. Australia has now solidified its position in the fourth place. This result is a bad one for Pakistan, who needed Australia to lose this game.

Earlier in the day New Zealand skipper won the toss and chose to bowl first. Mark Chapman was replaced by Jimmy Neesham. Australia on the other hand welcomed back Travis Head in place of Cameron Green,

Australian bowlers hold their nerves to win a close game –

David Warner and Travis Head decimated the New Zealand bowling on a very good batting pitch in Dharamshala. The openers added 175 runs for the opening wicket in just 19.1 overs. After scoring two successive centuries, David Warner was looking good for another century. That’s when Glenn Phillips had Warner caught and bowled for 81 runs.

Travis Head making his ODI World Cup debut scored a blistering ton which came off just 59 balls. Glenn Phillips struck yet again to get rid of the dangerous opener and bowled him for 109 runs off 67 balls with 10 fours and 7 sixes.

Glenn Maxwell (41), Mitchell Marsh (36), Josh Inglis (38), and Pat Cummins (37) helped Australia reach 388 runs. Glenn Phillips was the star with the ball picking 3/37 from his ten overs. Trent Boult picked 3/77 from his 10 overs as the Kiwis had a huge chase on their hands.

Devon Conway began the chase by scoring 28 runs from just 17 balls while Will Young scored 32. The openers added 61 for the first wicket before Hazlewood had both the openers back in the hut. The Kiwis were suddenly in trouble at 72/2 in the 10^th over.

Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra came together to add another meaningful stand of 96 runs. Mitchell had scored a century against India in the same venue last Sunday the 32-year-old though could only manage 54 runs on Saturday.

Rachin Ravindra though kept going as he scored his 2^nd Century of ODI World Cup 2023. Just against the run of play, Ravindra fell to Cummins for 116 runs as the Kiwis lost wickets at regular intervals.

With the score reading 346/8 New Zealand needed 42 runs off 20 balls and that’s when James Neesham came to the party. The left-handed batter scored 58 runs off just 39 balls but fell with his team needing just 7 runs for a win. Mitchell Starc kept his cool and bowled Australia to win by 5 wins and stay fourth in the table.

Here’s how the fans reacted –