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A blistering opening stand between David Warner and Travis Head propelled Australia to their highest ODI World Cup score against New Zealand on Saturday, 28 October. Competing at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, the Aussies racked up 388 runs in 49.2 overs, eclipsing their prior record of 348/6 set in 2007.
The duo of Warner and Head stitched together a 175-run partnership in a mere 19.1 overs, laying a solid foundation for a mammoth total. Even though Australia faced a hiccup during the middle overs, they managed to post a formidable score against Tom Latham's team.
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Warner, after contributing a brisk 81 from 65 deliveries, was the first to depart. Travis Head, on the other hand, reached his century in just 59 balls, eventually scoring 109 off 67 before his dismissal in the 24th over.
Australia hit a minor snag when both Mitchell Marsh and Steven Smith were sent back to the pavilion while trying to up the run rate. With the scoreboard reading 274-5, it looked like Australia's charge might wane. However, Glenn Maxwell stepped up, crafting a quickfire 41 from just 24 deliveries.
The real spectacle was provided by Josh Inglis and Pat Cummins, who stitched together a rapid 62-run stand, pushing Australia's score past 380. They seemed poised to touch the 400-run mark, but a flurry of late dismissals meant they finished at 388.
Travis Head's remarkable maiden century, coupled with significant contributions from stalwarts like Warner, Maxwell, Inglis, and Cummins, anchored Australia to a commanding total. Their batting display underscored their status as heavyweights in the World Cup, with Head's innings being a notable highlight of his cricketing journey.
On the bowling front, all-rounder Glenn Phillips was the star, clinching three wickets while giving away only 37 runs in his 10-over spell.
Earlier, during the toss, New Zealand's acting skipper Tom Latham chose to bowl first. The Black Caps made a change to their squad, bringing in James Neesham in place of Mark Chapman. Meanwhile, Australia was bolstered by the return of Travis Head, leading to Cameron Green being left out.
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