Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne guide Australia to victory in World Cup final

CLINICAL WIN FOR AUSTRALIA: Travis Head guides Australia to their sixth World Cup title. The left-handed opener’s 137 off 120 balls took his team to a six-wicket victory in the final against India. The Australians promised to slience the 130,000 crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium and they did it with clinical precision. When Australia lost three quick wickets, the hosts had some hopes of defending the low total, but Head and Labuschagne with their record 192-run partnership for the fourth wicket, on a wicket that has eased due to the onset of dew, ensured that there were no more success for the Indians. But when Australia needed two runs for win, Head’s innings came to an end. What a knock. While Australia remained unbeaten for ninth straight game, India’s 10-game unbeaten run comes to an end in the final. Labuschgne remained unbeaten on 58.

PLAYING WITH HIS HEAD: Head completes a brilliant century as Australia have moved closer to the target with ease. The left-hander has ensured that the crowd goes silent with his stroke making by not lowering the gears at any stage. His calculated assault and Labuschagne’s defence has thwarted India from making further inroads. After 34 overs, Australia are 185/3 and the duo putting on 144-run partnership in 163 balls.

AUSTRALIA IN COMMAND: Tavis Head is closing on an a brilliant century, an innings laced with stunning shots and counter-attacking the Indian bowling when Australia were pushed to the wall. When Labuschagne was struck on the pads and India reviewed, the Indian fans thought they got the much-needed breakthrough, but it wasn’t to be as the review went with umpires call. What is more intesting is the ease with which the Head and Labschagne are scoring their runs and more importantly the boundaries. After 30 overs, Australia are 167/3 with Head on 86 and Labuschagne 37, needing another 74 runs.

MATCH TILTING AUSTRALIA’S WAY: Head is gaining in confidence and playing with authority. The scores his 17th ODI half-century and every run in the final is priceless. However, there is hardly any difference between the teams at this stage, still Australia are looking secured and the final is tilting towards Australia. Strangely, the spinners are not able to get a lot of turn in the second innings, as opposed to the Australians. The luck is also favouring the five-time champions who see the edges flying to the vacant slip area. After 25 overs, Australia are 135 for 3 with Head on 64 and Labuschagne 26 and the pair has put on a 86-run partnership.

AUSTRALIANS BACK ON TRACK: Travis Head is threatening to change the match on its head. The left-handed opener has a perfect foil in Marnus Labuschagne and the duo have put on a 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket. However, if the Australians could go on for a while by mixing caution with aggression, then they will firmly be back on track in their chase. Still, it is a tricky situation for the Aussies, who don’t have a big asking rate, hence they could take their time to weather some good bowling. After, 20 overs Australia are 104 for 3, needing another 137 runs in 30 overs.

INDIA GO FOR DOUBLE-SPIN ATTACK: Travis Head is showing ominous signs, playing some stunning shots. However, his attacking approach could go either way as it is a wicket that is not conducive for stroke-making. Marnus Labuschagne, on the other hand, is playing a waiting game. So it is going to be attack from one end and defense from the other, similar to the strategy adopted by India. Rohit has brought in Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, to arrest the run-rate and halt Australia’s march. After 13 overs, Australia are 70 for 3.

BUMRAH GETS INTO THE ACTION: Home hero Bumrah gets two prized wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith in two consecutive overs to push Australia in deep trouble. While operating with Shami, the Indian fans feel that the hosts will get a wicket every ball. And it is for a reason. The Indian pace duo are moving the ball so much around. After nine overs, Australia are 51/3.

SHAMI GIVES EARLY BREAKTHROUGH: It’s all happening in Ahmedabad. The fist ball of Jasprit Bumrah saw the catch go in between Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill for a boundary. The next five balls saw two more fours scored by Travis Head, giving Austrlia a brisk start. However, Mohammed Shami, the man with the golden arm, dismissed the dangerous Warner in the second over to bring India back into the game. The ball was spinning in the first innings, however Shami has been getting prodigous swing, but still the runs are coming thick and fast. After 3 overs, Australia are 29/1.

HAZLEWOOD STRIKES AGAIN: The misery of Suryakumar Yadav is over. The famed striker of the ball is not able to make the same impact in the ODIs like he has done in the Twenty20 format, getting out for 18 after failing to show any domination that he is known for. The shot that he played to be dismissed is not that of a top-class batter, but may be fit enough to be a tailender. However, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav took the hosts to 240 in 50 overs. Starc finished with three wickets, while Hazlewood and Cummins grabbed one each. Needing 241 to win the World Cup, Australia will bank on openers to give them a solid start to the chase.

ZAMPA EQUALS SHAMI: Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa dismisses Jasprit Bumrah to take his World Cup tally to 23, equalling Mohammed Shami as the top wickettaker. However, the Indian batting is not able to score freely and are reduced to 221/8 in 46 overs.

TWIN STRIKE BY STARC: When Australia needed wicket, the bowlers have been deliving the team’s call almost instantanously. When Rahul and Suryakumar were trying to push forward in the final 9 overs, Starc produced a beauty, that came in the angle on to the middle and off-stump to leave the Rahul, who was beaten square, but managed a faint edge to keeper. The left-arm pacer returned i the next to dismiss Mohammed Shami to leave India at 213 for 7 in 44 overs. SKY will have to play till the end to give some respectability to the score.

TANTALISINGLY POISED: The World Cup final has entered a critical phase. The Aussies have done well so far to curtail India to 200 for five in 41 overs. However, the last nine overs could tilt the match either way. With Suryakumar Yadav, who has the capability to play 360 degrees, and Rahul batting, if this pair manage to score another 60-70 runs in the next 10 overs, then it could give the hosts a good target to defend. Hence, Australia will need to break this crucial partnership to keep India under 250 on a slow surface.

AUSTRALIA BACK IN CONTROL: After a brief period when the Indian batters were trying to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard moving, but the loss of Ravindra Jadeja has ensured that the hosts were back in their shell again. Hazlewood breaks the partnership with Inglis completing the catch. The older ball is reversing and the bowlers are able to get more grip and turn. After 38 overs, India are 182/5.

RAHUL REACHES HALF-CENTURY: Rahul has continued to hold one end up and in the company of Ravindra Jadeja has taken India to 173/4 in 35 overs. In the process the 31-year-old Karnataka batter has scored a battling half-century, his second in this World Cup coming off 86 balls. The wicket continues to get slower and both batters are aware that it is not a 330-run wicket. The advent of Jadeja has also helped India keep the scoreboard ticking with very sharp singles.

ABSOLUTE SILENCE IN AHMEDABAD: Australian skipper Pat Cummins broke the threatening partnership, dismissing Kohli for 54. The Indian ace plays a backfoot defence onto his stumps, leaving India in a preilous situation. A lot will depend on Rahul to play till the end as India are 149 for 4 in 29 overs. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been promoted up the order.

KOHLI REACHES 72ND HALF-CENTURY: Kohli continues to anchor the Indian innings, scoring another half-century in the final, coming in off 57 balls. Rahul too has started playing freely, breaking the shackles of Australia to score India’s first boundary after 15 overs. After 28 overs, India are 146/3, the fourth wicket partnership adding 65 runs.

AUSTRALIA TIGHTING THEIR HOLD: The runs are hard to come by, coming only in ones and twos. The boundaries have dried up with nothing being scored in the last 12 overs. The Australian fielding is top notch, saving several boundaries. So far they would have at least saved 20 vital runs, which could make a big difference in the final scheme of things. After 22 overs, India are 121/3, Kohli batting on 42 and Rahul on 22.

TIME FOR CONSOLIDATION: The two quick wickets have made Virat Kohli and KL Rahul play with caution, which has reduced the run-rate to a great extent. However, the duo have taken India past the 100-run mark. Kohli and Rahul have been in this situation earlier in this World Cup, rescuing India from three for two runs in the opener. They need to play a similar role for the next couple of hours before the hosts could take their chances. After 16 overs, India are 101 for three.

MAXWELL, CUMMINS STRIKE: Rohit Sharma’s wicket against the run of play has silenced the 130,000 fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium. A move Australian captain Pat Cummins was plotting on the eve of the final. After a six and a four, the Indian captain tried to go after Maxwell and the leading edge to covers was taken by Travis Head, running back to pull off a stunning catch. Cummins followed it up with another stunning delivery to dismiss Shreyas Iyer for 4. After 10.2 overs, India are 80 for 3, Rohit getting out for 47.

KOHLI JOINS THE PARTY: Virat Kohli gets into the groove immediately to score three consecutive fours off Starc to take India past the 50-run mark. While Rohit believes in going on the assault, Kohli’s silken touch ensures that the scoreboard is ticking at a good pace. After eight overs, the hosts are 61 for one with spin coming into the attack early in the innings.

HONOURS EVEN: Rohit Sharma continued to attack the Australian bowling, just the way he has done it in the last 10 matches this World Cup to give India a blazing start. However, Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc struck to reduce the hosts to 30 for one in the fifth over. After five overs, India are 35/1 with Rohit on 31 and Virat Kohli 1.

TOSS TIME: Australian skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl first in the 50-over World Cup final in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Both Australia and Indian skipper Rohit Sharma have retained the same team that won the semi-finals. “The pitch looks like a bit dry and wanted to bowl first. Dew is one factor and it’s quite dewy in the night at this venue,” said Cummins as Australia target their sixth World Cup title in their eighth final. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma said he would have batted first if he had won the toss. “Big game and want to put the runs on the board. It’s going to be amazing and it is the biggest occasion in terms of cricketing events. We got to stay nice and calm.” Rohit added. Teams: India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj. Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (captain), Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood.

AIR SHOW: Indian Air Force Surya Kiran aircrafts perform an aerobatic display for the final.

PERFECT PITCH: India’s Mohammad Siraj, Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja inspect the pitch ahead of the final in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

DANCING TO DIFFERENT TUNES: Performers take part in a rehearsal on the eve of the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup final match between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.