Head spearheads Australia’s sixth World Cup triumph

Rex Clementine in Ahmedabad

Wonder why Australia value Travis Head so much? Well, the proof was there to be seen in the World Cup final yesterday here in Ahmedabad. The middle order batter was named in their World Cup campaign despite a fractured left hand. Big call. Such a big call that he in fact missed Australia’s first five games. But when it came to the business end of the sport’s showpiece event, he showed his worth with an unbeaten hundred in the final that saw Australia winning the World Cup for a sixth time.

India were tournament favourites, by a country mile. They had been unbeaten in the competition and had all bases covered but it takes just one bad game for the wheels to come off and they came off in a hurry.

When Rohit Sharma was batting, it looked a batting paradise. The Indian captain raced to 47 off 31 balls with four fours and three sixes. It needed a blinder from Head to dismiss Rohit.

Rohit had hit Glenn Maxwell for a four and a six in one over and in the same over he stepped out of the crease to clear the off-spinner but didn’t connect properly and Head sprinted from extra cover and pulled off a diving catch.

After Rohit’s dismissal, India didn’t have any momentum to their innings. Despite Virat Kohli and K.L. Rahul scoring half-centuries, the big hitting was missing by both batters and Australia did well to restrict the formidable Indian batting line-up to 240.

If any team could make a game out of this and defend 240 it was India given their bowling resources.

And they did well restricting Australai to 47 for three. When Steve Smith was gone, trapped leg before wicket, India had their hopes high. Head was at fault too for not asking his former skipper to review, which could have saved him.

However, he took it upon himself to see through the run chase.

It was a fabulous effort. Chanceless and had calculated risks. Of course, the required run rate was never a problem so he could pace his innings well, but the skill levels to counter this attack were fabulous.

India were searching for wickets and placed attacking fields. When Head counterattacked, Rohit knew he didn’t have much to defend and had to spread the field.

It was a clever run chase. India were in the game only when the new ball did something and couldn’t overcome Head.

While Head received all the accolades, Marnus Labuschagne was a silent hero. They shared a 192 run stand for the fourth wicket. The partnership was broken with just two runs needed for the win as Head tried to finish it off in style but failed to clear the long-on boundary.

Labuschagne was unbeaten on 58 that came off 110 balls. Head finished on 137 in 120 balls with 15 fours and four sixes.