Australia’s victory against India on home soil is damning evidence of why they are the best Cricket team in the world. They lost their last 2 matches in the 2019 World Cup and their first 2 matches in this World Cup which is the longest losing streak they have encountered in world cup history. However, there is a popular saying that, allow Australia to reach the semifinals, you may as well kiss the World Cup goodbye and that is exactly what played out.
In their last group game, a masterclass from Glen Maxwell with 201 runs off 145 balls and a cramped left leg, produced the best individual score in a run chance since the history of the World Cup to gift them a semi-final spot. The Semi-final against South Africa was a repeat of the 1999 World Cup with the infamous Alan Donald scenario that can be likened to “Lot’s wife” in the Bible who looked back why fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah’ and turned into a pillar of salt.
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Fast forward 24 years later, Australia did just enough with Josh Inglis playing the Nightwatchman to see Australia home. A definition of cricket being a ‘’waiting game’’ was displayed in the death when Mitchel Stark and Pat Cummins held on to a victory that will see South Africa wait for another 4 years at least. If there is a team that performs best under intense pressure, that will be Australia because they will play under their own steam and decide what is considered pressure or motivation and the deafening ‘Sound of Silence’ to a crowd of over 90,000 India supporters will be the second-best reward after the trophy itself and that is the story of the Cricket World Cup 2023.
This victory makes it 6 in 13 attempts and three times more than any other country, no wonder comments around the world have included “Heartbreak most poignant – in the dashed hopes of Captain Rohit Sharma and Coach Rahul Dravid of India”, “Hard for me not to believe in Miracles – Marnus Labuschagne of Australia”, “Australia saved the best for last – Captain Pat Cummins of Australia”, “These are the moments that you’ll remember for the rest of your life – Travis Head”, Player of the final match with his brilliant 137 runs that ensured Australia went home with the trophy.
Musa Ehizoje Bodie writes from Abuja
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