Australia produce the unthinkable to stun India in the World Cup final. Bowlers do a superb demolition job on star studded Indian batters. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor).
The cricket God’s said India at home, but the God that matters said otherwise as Australia defied all odds to win an unprecedented sixth Cricket World Cup.
Ahamedabad was renowned to be a slow track but Australia challenged the myth to run down India and break the hearts of a fanatical nation at home to reverse what happened in 2011.
The shock win with seven overs to spare proved the validity of self belief which Australia are renowned for. Travis Head 137 off 120 with 4 sixers and 15 fours, and Marnus Labuschagne a sedate 58 off 110, saw Australia stave off an Indian challenge at 47 fo 3 adding 192 for the fourth wicket.
India went into this final overwhelming favourites against an Australian side who were unlikely finalists.
But Australia is always known for being a team never to be written off when their tails are up. No one could begrudge Australia’s gallant effort that produced the unthinkable. This team will go down in history as ‘simply the best’.
Winning the toss and electing to field, Pat Cummins made a tactical decision to chase whatever India could muster. It was a plan that was ingenious.
The toss was the crucial turning point to Australia gaining ascendency to their game plan.
It turned out to be a gamble that was a winner as Australia went on to restrict a potent Indian batting line-up to just 240, setting the stage for a comfortable run chase.
Travis Head and Manus Labuschagne showed nerves of steel as the chased down the target silencing around 120,00 plus stunned Indian fans in a final that had the home crowd dumbfounded.
Pat Cummins led from the front with the ball and together with Mitchell Stark and Josh Hazelwood had the Indian batters all at sea backed by another brilliant fielding display that tied the home team down.
Six wins in World Cup history puts Australia way out of reach from the rest. And this particular triumph will rate among the best due to the fact that they were written off at the beginning after losing the first two games.
India will lament a lack of a plan B, following an unbeaten run that made them appear invincible. In fact their dominance to this point suggested a mismatch in the final against Australia. But resting on your laurels is always folly as they soon found out by not getting the job done in the end.
Sporting nations in the world have learned that you write off Australia at your peril. I said that in my preview.
Billions of Indian cricket followers worldwide watched in horror as Australia craftily dismantled a well drilled Indian side that showed no chinks in their armour until the ill fated final.
This World Cup will be remembered for many reasons, among them the emergence of Afghanistan and the Netherlands who showed the world their exceptional talent and an exciting brand of cricket that will be looked forward to in the future.
