AHMEDABAD, India (Reuters) - Australia once again showed their ability to produce their best on the grandest of occasions on Sunday when they toppled India to win the 50-overs World Cup title and cement their status as the most successful team in the tournament’s history.
Australia opener Travis Head smashed a magnificent century to fashion their six-wicket victory against the tournament’s form team who posted a below-par 240 all out and were reeled in with seven overs to spare.
Head hit a superb 137 off 120 balls to ease Australian nerves after a top-order wobble before they romped home in a contest that never reached great heights.
Australia entered the match as clear underdogs against an all-conquering India side, who had won 10 matches in a row to storm into the final.
The superb victory means Australia extend their record as the most successful side in 50-over World Cup history and now sit four titles clear of the rest of the pack.
It also caps a six-month period in which they beat India to win the World Test Championship and retained the Ashes in England.
India, meanwhile, were left crestfallen as their bid for a first white-ball title since 2011 - an achievement which looked unstoppable as they made rampant progress through the semi-final and group stage - fell at the final hurdle.
This was supposed to be India’s day in front of an enormous home crowd with their prime minister Narendra Modi, who this stadium is named after, up in the stands.
Instead, it ended in crushing disappointment as Head produced one of the great World Cup knocks and Australia ran out surprise and comfortable winners.
By the time 29-year-old Head reached his century, some in the vast stands had already made their exit, while seamer Mohammed Siraj was in tears at the end.
Australia were contenders when this tournament began, without being tipped by many to go all of the way, just like when they won the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Their campaign hit serious jitters early on with defeats in their opening two games, first by India and then South Africa, but they have won the title with nine consecutive victories, beating every team in the tournament in a row.
At the end, their players, including England’s old foes David Warner and Steve Smith, charged onto the field in celebration.