Head blasts century in world cup upset

AUSTRALIA has won an unprecedented sixth ICC ODI World Cup with a masterful victory over India in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad.

Aussie skipper Pat Cummins surprisingly bowled first before he and his side went about expertly restricting the dangerous Indian batting attack to 240.

Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer were both removed for four which placed India on the back foot from the outset.

Captain Rohit Sharma blasted 47 off 31 balls, while Virat Kohli made a composed 54 from 63 balls alongside Kl Rahul who soaked up an enormous amount of delivers for his 66 off 107.

That partnership somewhat steadied the ship but there was little joy elsewhere for the host nation who had to settle for a meagre total.

Mitch Starc with 3/55, Cummins 2/34 and Josh Hazlewood 2/60 were the multiple wicket-takers for Australia.

Australia’s run chase did not start well with David Warner with 7, Mitch Marsh on 15 and Steve Smith on 4 all back in the sheds by the seventh over.

The Aussies found themselves 3/47 and up against it, however, that scenario did not dampen Travis Head’s enthusiasm as he went about plundering India’s bowlers all over Narendra Modi Stadium.

The swashbuckling left-hander piled on a remarkable 137 from 120 balls with 15 fours and four sixes to guide his side to 4/241 and a resounding six-wicket victory with 42 balls to spare.

He became the seventh man to make a century in a world cup final and the third Aussie, joining Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist.

Head had also taken a superb catch earlier in the match to remove Rohit just as he was hitting his stride.

It truly was a man of the match performance.

Marnus labuschagne was the steady hand alongside head, soaking up pressure to make 58 off 110 balls, the pair putting on 192 for the fourth wicket to ensure the triumph.

After dropping the first two matches of the world cup to India and South Africa, the Australians were able to completely turn things around by defeating those two sides in the final and semi-final respectively.

Coach Andrew McDonald’s team won nine matches in a row on the way to lifting the trophy.

Of Australia’s six world cup wins, this one on Indian soil against a previously undefeated team and a sea of blue shirts might just be the best.

– ANDREW SLEVISON/ SEN