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The five-time champions Australia locked horns with 2015 and 2019 finalists New Zealand in the 27th clash of the ODI World Cup 2023. The match took place at what is considered the most beautiful cricket stadium in the world, the HPCA Stadium in Dharmshala. The Aussies were coming off a much-needed win against the Netherlands, while the Black Caps faced a four-wicket defeat by the 2023 hosts, India in their last match.
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New Zealand stand-in captain Tom Latham won the toss and invited the rivals to bat first. The Kangaroos who had Travis Head returning to action after 43 days posted a score of 388 runs by losing 10 wickets. The Pat Cummins side displayed powerful batting skills in the game and rode on Head's 59-baller century along with Warner's 65-baller 81.
The Kiwis failed to give themselves a favourable start to their innings and lost Devon Conway in the eighth over. However, the rising star of their side Rachin Ravindra played a brilliant knock of 116 runs off 89 balls to give his side some stability. After Daryl Mitchell's 51-baller 54, the Kiwis started to lose wickets in succession.
Meanwhile, James Neesham took steering in his hands in the final overs of the game and hit a half-century in 33 balls to raise fans' hopes in the final over. However, the Australian team left no stone unturned in the final over to get the team a five-run win on the last ball of the match.
