Australia down India to lift the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup for a record sixth time

November 20, 2023 159

Australia produced a magnificent performance to beat India in the final to win the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

1987 🏆 1999 🏆 2003 🏆 2007 🏆 2015 🏆 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ 🏆

𝙰𝚄𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙰𝙻𝙸𝙰 𝙰𝚁𝙴 #𝙲𝚆𝙲𝟸𝟹 𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙼𝙿𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 🎉 pic.twitter.com/YV19PzpV1n

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 19, 2023

Over 130 000 Indian supporters arrived at the Narendra Modi Stadium hoping to see the host nation end their decade-long wait for a major ICC trophy win. But it was Australia who delivered on the day.

The Australian bowling attack combined to turn the screw after a fast-paced powerplay, bowling India out for 240.

Travis Head was the star with the bat, hitting an inspired century to win Australia’s men their sixth ICC Cricket World Cup crown.

Travis Head takes the @aramco #POTM home for an elegant ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup winning ton in challenging conditions ⚡#CWC23 | #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/oaKhiqrg2T

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 19, 2023

Victory for Australia is a crowning moment in what has been a phenomenal year for Pat Cummins’ side across formats, adding to their win over India in the World Test Championship final in June and their subsequent retention of the Ashes.

Tasked with a target of 241 to win the World Cup, Australia got off to a fast but shaky start in the face of a new-ball assault from India’s seam attack.

David Warner (7), Mitchell Marsh (15) and Steven Smith (4) all departed cheaply as Australia slipped to 47/3 inside the opening seven overs, with Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah taking the wickets.

But a superb partnership between Head and Marnus Labuschagne won it for Australia, with Head hitting a stunning century and Labuschagne playing the foil at the other end, chipping in with a resolute half-century of his own. Article by Ntsako Mkhari