Travis Head's blazing century outshone Rachin Ravindra's valiant 116, guiding Australia to a thrilling five-run victory over New Zealand in the 27th match of the ICC World Cup at the HPCA Cricket Stadium in Dharamsala on Saturday.
This victory keeps Australia's hopes alive for a spot in the semi-finals of the 50-over tournament.
In his World Cup debut, Head displayed his prowess by smashing 109 runs off just 67 balls, partnering with David Warner (81) in an explosive 175-run opening stand. Their remarkable performance propelled Australia to a formidable total of 388 runs at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
As Australia's innings progressed, Glenn Maxwell (41), Josh Inglis (38), and captain Pat Cummins (37) added brisk contributions, eventually leading to Australia's all-out total in the 49.2nd over.
New Zealand's response was spirited, led by Ravindra's second century of the tournament and Daryl Mitchell's composed 54-run innings, which stabilized their chase. Despite Ravindra's dismissal in the 41st over, New Zealand refused to give up, with James Neesham's tenacious 58-run effort injecting fresh drama into the match.
In the end, New Zealand fell just short of their target, finishing at 383-9, leaving Australia victorious in a memorable encounter.
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