Australia are closing in on a World Cup semi-final berth after a pulsating five-run win over New Zealand, who came perilously close to pulling off the biggest successful run chase in World Cup history.
Australia appeared in the box seat after an 175-run opening partnership from newly-fit Travis Head and in-form David Warner propelled them to a formidable total of 388 in Dharamshala on Saturday.
But a second Cup century to Rachin Ravindra (116) kept the Black Caps on track, before their last recognised batter Jimmy Neesham (58 off 39 balls) stepped up for a furious cameo.
Neesham, only called in as an injury replacement for Mark Chapman, was tasked with scoring 19 runs from the final over to seal a famous victory and once again put Australia’s knockout hopes in doubt.
Mitchell Starc bowled a wide from his second delivery, which slipped past wicketkeeper Josh Inglis for four byes.
The potentially costly mistake improved the Kiwis’ equation from 18 runs off five balls to only 13 from as many, and the Black Caps lifted from the dugout.
But the Australians put their bodies on the line in the field as the final over intensified and the Kiwis were unable to find the boundary.
Neesham was made to pay as he attempted to scramble back for a second run after hitting Starc’s penultimate delivery to deep mid-wicket, run out by Josh Inglis at the striker’s end.
From there, the Australians were home, paceman Lockie Ferguson unable to hit the six required off the final ball.
After beginning the India-based tournament with consecutive defeats, Pat Cummins’ side have now won four games in a row and will likely make the knockout stage even if they lose one more.
They will start favourites in their three remaining group-stage games against out-of-sorts England as well as Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
In his first hit-out since breaking his hand six weeks ago, World Cup debutant Head (109) partnered with red-hot Warner (81) to punish the Kiwis for sending Australia in to bat.
Their 175-run partnership, posted at a run-rate of 9.13, was the fastest for an opening pair scoring over 150 runs in an ODI.
It eclipsed Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy’s 159-run stand against Pakistan in Bristol in 2019 (9.08).
Kiwi quick Matt Henry (1-67) unwittingly kickstarted Head’s superb innings with two back-to-back no balls in the third over.
Head smacked both free hits for six on his way to posting the fastest half-century of the tournament (50 off 25 balls) so far.
Warner, for his part, was 19 runs short of becoming the first Australian in history to post a century in three consecutive ODIs.
Part-time off-spinner Glenn Phillips (3-37) was pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis, who took 5-99 after the opening onslaught to prevent what could have been an astronomical score.
It took deploying spin to slow the Australians down and Phillips had the breakthrough the Kiwis were after when he caught Warner from his own bowling in the 20th over.
Just as Australia did to the Kiwi quicks, Ravindra took advantage of the Dharamshala wicket that offered little for the world-class Australian pace attack.
He brought his century up by belting Glenn Maxwell over deep mid wicket for six and was given an extra life shortly thereafer, dropped by a gutted Glenn Maxwell from his own bowling.
Adam Zampa (3-74) helped ensure Ravindra was never able to form a steady partnership, dispatching of the dangerous Daryl Mitchell (54) and later moving atop the ladder for most wickets this tournament (16).
Late cameos from Pat Cummins (37 off 14 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (41 off 24) reinvigorated the Australians in their innings and were vital after the run chase proved unexpectedly close.
