Australian opener, Travis Head, entered World Cup folklore becoming the seventh man to score a century in the final to lead his country to a resounding victory by six wickets against host nation and overwhelming favourites, India, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Head finished with a glorious 137 from just 120 deliveries as Australia chased down India’s total of 240 all out with 241-4 in 43 overs striking 15 fours and four sixes to utterly dominate the showpiece final which left a record crowd of around 120 000 in stunned silence.
India had romped into the final with ten consecutive victories leaving the majority of India’s fanatic supporters convinced that victory would be a formality but Australian captain Pat Cummins’ brave decision to bowl first paid the richest of dividends.
Marnus Labuschagne played one of the most under-stated roles in World Cup history with a test match-style of innings 58 from 110 balls having come to the crease at a precarious 47-3 but his contribution to a match-winning, fourth-wicket partnership of 192 was as important, if massively less-memorable, than Head’s.
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