ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023: Australia completed 'Mission Hexa' by beating India

November 19, 2023
Australia completed 'Mission Hexa' beating India by 6 wickets. They claim their sixth ODI World Cup title. Chasing a tricky 241 to win the final, Australia fell to 47-3, but left-handed Head scored his second century of the tournament to take his team home with seven overs remaining. A headbutt and a marathon record 192 points against 58-match unbeaten Marnus Labuschagne ended India's overwhelming 10-match unbeaten run in the tournament. Before Glenn Maxwell scored the winning run, his head fell off after his 120-ball knock was studded with 15 fours and four sixes, causing a frenzy in the Australian camp. A celebration broke out. India's chances of ending their global trophy drought since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013 have disappeared with Head embarking on a partnership with Labuschagne. Head's century was his seventh in a World Cup final and the third Australian player to do so after Ricky Ponting (140 against India in 2003) and Adam Gilchrist (149 against Sri Lanka in 2007). The bowlers bounced back from two losses to set up a victory for the Australian team, who won nine in a row, with Mitchell Starc (3-55) and Pat Cummins (2-34) helping them beat India for 240. India Scores At this moment, Mohammed Shami shared the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah and took his second shot, setting up David Warner for the seventh point. However, it was Bumrah's back-to-back doubles that shook the ceiling, leaving Mitchell Marsh with 15 points and Steve Smith LBW with 4 points. Captain Rohit Sharma looked for a breakthrough and substituted bowlers, but Head, along with Labuscanu, held firm and thwarted the Indian attack. Head was in danger of missing the World Cup after breaking his hand in South Africa in September, but Australia kept him in the team until he was fit to play. He scored a crucial century-clinching goal in the team's sixth league match against New Zealand and, after some low scores, made an attacking 62 in the team's nervous three-wicket semi-final win over South Africa in Calcutta. He became India's nemesis for the second time this year, as his 163 runs clinched Australia's victory in the World Test Championship at the Oval in June. Head reached 100 in 95 pitches and swung his bat to the applause of the Australian locker room. Australia chose to bat first and the players supported Cummins' decision with disciplined bowling and impressive fielding. After Rohit hit 47, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul hit 54 and 66 respectively, but the ball dominated the bat on a slow and dry pitch. Head takes a brilliant catch while running back from cover point to break up Rohit's innings from spinner Maxwell. Cummins bowled Kohli, who was the tournament's top batsman with 765 runs, to silence the crowd of 92,453 fans. It was a memorable day for the Central home team as well.

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