World Cup 2023: New Zealand showcase their never-give-up attitude despite Australia defeat

So close, yet so far. That has been the story for New Zealand when it comes to marquee clashes at a major ICC tournament. Their latest heartbreak came on Saturday against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup match in Dharamsala. World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table What sets New Zealand apart from the other teams in the World Cup is their never-say-die attitude, even in the most pressure situations where there is only a slim chance of winning, or surviving. Once again, New Zealand, as a collective unit, displayed courage in their run-chase of 389. By the end, the Kiwis tried their best, but failed, as they succumbed to a five-run defeat.

Travis Head announces his arrival at the global stage On Saturday, Australia finally got to know whom they had been missing in the first half of the tournament — Travis Head. Head had missed the first half of the World Cup after sustaining a finger injury during the ODI series against South Africa in September, and much was expected from the opener. And he delivered in style. Making his World Cup debut, Head hardly seemed as though that was the case. He took on the opposition with freedom and aggression, going onto amass 109 runs from just 67 deliveries, at a strike-rate of 162.68.

Travis Head celebrating a century on CWC debut 💯🙌#CWC23 | #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/pjzgik7HGr

— ICC (@ICC) October 28, 2023

Head would get among the runs early on in the innings. After collecting a single off Boult in the final ball of the second over, Head would go onto punish Matt Henry with a couple of sixes. The first one from Henry, was a no ball. Henry would bowl a length ball, with Head clearing his front leg on this occasion to smash one over wide long-on. Henry would then deliver a rather short ball in the next, which Head would clobber over midwicket region for a maximum. Matt Henry would get smashed again by Travis Head. This time in the fifth over. At the start of the fourth over, Henry launched a full ball outside off to Head, which the latter would look to go over mid-on, but ended up getting a thick edge that travelled over first slip. Head then picked the wide mid-off region for his next boundary, before slamming a six over deep midwicket with a bottom-hand flick. Just halfway through his innings, Head went onto amass six fours and four sixes, getting to his half-century in just 25 deliveries. However, it did not end there. Although boundaries would soon dry up for Head, he was not done just yet. In the 13th over, just a ball after hitting Mitchell Santner for a six over wide long-off, Head earned a reprieve, being dropped by Santner himself. Head then knew what approach he had to take. He cautiously settled for singles, without taking any undue risks with pushes and punches towards the deep. In the 17th over, Head would get a lifeline again after being dropped by Glenn Phillips at midwicket. Head would make Phillips pay once again, this time with a boundary in the 18th over, dancing down the track and slamming over the bowler’s head for a four. And exactly an over after hotting Rachin Ravindra for a six, Head got to his century, off just 59 balls with a cut towards deep cover point. If Australia needed to strengthen their batting firepower, probably that is what Head is all about. And that is what the South Australian displayed, showing true courage and taking on the opposition to the cleaners in a merciless manner. Just how the Australian philosophy in ODI cricket is meant to be. Kiwis succumb to pressure yet again Sadly for the Black Caps, they had been here (in this situation) and done it. This defeat would have reminded a few of the players in the team about that heartbreak at Lord’s on the fateful evening of 14 July, 2019, when the Kiwis lost to England by barest of margins in the World Cup final. However, this New Zealand side is different from that one. Four years is a long time in cricket, and this year, we have witnessed the resurgence of New Zealand in the one-day format. So much so that, they hardly gave up during the run-chase, and fought till the very end. While Devon Conway and Will Young would go onto forge a 61-run stand for the opening wicket, the onus would once again rely on Rachin Ravindra. Ravindra, with his typical aggressive touch, would go onto score his century off 77 balls, and had it not been for his dismissal in the 41st over, New Zealand would have crossed the finish line without much hassle. However, what gave New Zealand a slight advantage in the game is that they had James Neesham in the middle when Ravindra was dismissed. Neesham had batted with some confidence, punishing the pace trio of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc for regular boundaries, and did almost everything right. In fact, there was nothing that could go wrong for a New Zealand side that have looked more clinical this year than the one four years back. Neesham got to his fifty in the fourth ball of the 49th over with a boundary off Hazlewood. It was the final over that changed the momentum completely in Australia’s favour.

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The Aussies sent in Starc to bowl the final over, with the Kiwis needing 19 off the last six balls, with two wickets remaining. Unfortunately for the Kiwis, Trent Boult was on strike at the start of the final over. Boult started the over with a single, hoping that Neesham could finish a major part of the remainder of the chase. Neesham’s intent was clear. Find a couple of boundaries, and it’s advantage New Zealand. However, the Aussies were well aware of this situation. Unfortunately for them, they needed five fielders inside the circle after being an over behind. This meant long-on, deep cover point, deep square leg and third man were at the boundary ropes. To Australia’s dismay, Starc went wide down the leg side in the second ball, with the ball racing past the keeper for five wides. In search of another boundary, Neesham heaved towards deep midwicket, only for the fielder to save a couple of runs. Neesham would then drill the next ball straight down the ground, only to manage another brace. In the next ball, Neesham would target the deep midwicket region, but Marnus Labuschagne would make a fine save to prevent a boundary. Seven was required off two balls. Pressure was on New Zealand, clearly. It was a high full toss from Starc to Neesham, but the latter did not get enough elevation on the shot, and managed just a slog to Labuschagne in the deep. Neesham had collected a quick single by now, and called for a brace again, only this time, Neesham would fall well short of safety at the batters’ end. That was a moment of brilliance from Labuschagne, and eventually Josh Inglis which as a result took the Aussies home. Maybe, just maybe, New Zealand could have still pulled this off had Neesham survived and been on strike for the last ball, when they were a hit away from victory. However, luck did not go their way, and New Zealand lacked a settled batter ever since Ravindra’s dismissal, despite Neesham giving a glimmer of hope. In the end, Australia had the last laugh, but the Kiwis would have learnt their lessons from this defeat as they prepare to face South Africa on 1 November.