2023 Cricket World Cup final: Australia beat India by six wickets to claim sixth men's title Travis Head struck a magnificent, match-winning hundred as Australia claimed a record-extending sixth men’s Cricket World Cup title, breaking Indian hearts with a six-wicket win over the tournament hosts in the final in Ahmedabad. Head's superb 137, off 120 deliveries, helped rescue Australia from 47-3 early on in their chase of 241 to win as he became only the sixth player to score a century in a men's World Cup final, following in the footsteps of Sir Clive Lloyd (1975), Sir Viv Richards (1979), Aravinda de
Jasprit Bumrah (2-43). But Head and the uber-watchful Marnus Labuschagne (58no off 110 balls) saw off the danger and, with batting becoming progressively easier under lights as the game wore on, they shared in a 192-run stand as Australia cruised to victory, Glenn Maxwell smashing the winning runs with his first ball after Head perished two shy of the winning line.
Score summary India 240 all out in 50 overs: KL Rahul (66 off 107 balls), Virat Kohli (54 off 63), Rohit Sharma (47 off 31); Mitchell Starc (3-55), Pat Cummins (2-34), Josh Hazlewood (2-60) Australia 241-4 out in 43 overs: Travis Head (137 off 120 balls), Marnus Labuschagne (58no off 110); Jasprit Bumrah (2-43), Mohammed Siraj (1-45), Mohammed Shami (1-47) Player of the Match: Travis Head
Silva (1996), Ricky Ponting (2003), Adam Gilchrist (2007) and Mahela Jayawardene (2011). Mohammed Shami (147) had picked up David Warner (7) with his first ball, while Mitchell Marsh (15) and Steve Smith (4) both departed in the face of a superb opening spell from
India falter with bat after blistering Rohit start Earlier, KL Rahul (66 off 107) top-scored for India, while Virat Kohli (54 off 63) chipped in with a half century but the innings lost its way after a blistering, boundary-laden 31-ball cameo from skipper Rohit Sharma (47) at the top of the order. Rohit cracked three sixes to go with four boundaries
Australia claimed a recordextending sixth men’s Cricket World Cup title, breaking Indian hearts with a sixwicket win over the tournament hosts in the final in Ahmedabad. as 80 runs were reaped from the opening 10-over powerplay after India were put into bat by Australia Kohli too contributing four fours in that period. But Rohit departed to the fourth ball of the 10th over, Head claiming a terrific catch running back from cover, and Shreyas Iyer (4) was gone to the second ball of the 11th. The scoring dried up massively thereafter, with only four boundaries scored over the remaining 40 overs of the innings!
RNA Showgrounds to step up Lions Are 2023 AFLW Premiers! for Gabba redevelopment • RNA Showgrounds’ Main Arena identified as the best alternative venue for the Brisbane Lions and cricket during The Gabba redevelopment. • The Main Arena will be upgraded to create a temporary 20,000-seat facility. • The $137 million Main Arena upgrade will deliver a lasting community legacy for the city and the bush at the EKKA. An extensive South East Queensland-wide review has identified the RNA Showgrounds’ Main Arena as the best possible temporary venue during The Gabba rebuild. The RNA Showgrounds Main Arena will be upgraded to deliver a cost-effective, 20,000-seat alternative home for the Brisbane Lions, cricket and major events. A permanent seating bowl below a temporary grandstand at Machinery Hill is proposed for a $137 million Main Arena upgrade to also create a lasting community legacy for bringing city and country together at the EKKA. The RNA Showgrounds’ inner-city location beside a Cross River Rail station and proximity to after-game entertainment precincts was assessed as the most appealing option for spectators and the
community. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s support for the RNA’s Main Arena as a “no-brainer” for the relocation of The Gabba’s main tenants was a key consideration of the review. The Lord Mayor has commented an upgrade of the RNA for cricket and the Lions “just makes sense” and ensures “the significant economic benefits of hosting big AFL and cricket games isn’t lost during this time”. The Brisbane Lions’ contribution to Brisbane’s visitor economy is estimated at $80 million a year. Input from Cricket Queensland, Cricket Australia, Brisbane Lions and the AFL has been critical to the investigation of temporary playing venues for Gabba hirers. It will be an historic homecoming for cricket. In 1928, the Main Arena was where Sir Donald Bradman AC made his international debut at Queensland’s first international test. Up to $45.7 million has been committed by the Palaszczuk
48 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, December, 2023
Government to the $137 million Main Arena fit out. Brisbane City Council, the RNA and The Gabba’s primary tenants have been asked to share the remaining $91 million cost for the Main Arena upgrade to proceed. Work on the RNA Main Arena must begin by next year to be ready for the 2025-26 cricket season and the 2026 start of The Gabba redevelopment. Main Arena seating will be scaled back to 12,000 seats after the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said: “The Palaszczuk Government has worked closely with cricket and the AFL to find the best alternative venue for teams, spectators and the community while The Gabba is out of action. “Upgrading the RNA Main Arena means keeping the big games in Brisbane and supporting the visitor economy while delivering an EKKA legacy for uniting city and country. “I want to thank the Lord Mayor for his public backing of an upgrade to the historic Main Arena at the RNA Showgrounds to retain the economic benefits of sport and jobs here in Brisbane. “Most Queenslanders acknowledge cricket and the AFL will need somewhere to play during The Gabba redevelopment. “With many families facing cost-of-living pressures, the upgrade of RNA’s Main Arena is a logical solution, representing the best value-for-money for Queenslanders.”
Never, ever, ever write off Brisbane. After another round of expansion losses, and with seemingly the entire (nonBrisbane) football public siding with the fairytale story of North Melbourne, the Lions have once again triumphed, defeating the Roos by 17 points to sew up the 2023 AFLW premiership. They came from fourth on the ladder – having their ups and downs in the home-andaway season – but a finalquarter brace from Dakota Davidson, who had come into the match under a serious injury cloud with a knee injury, carried the Lions to a 7.2 (44) to 4.3 (27) victory. BUY PREMIERSHIP MERCH HERE Brisbane set an AFLW record for tackles in the process such was its intensity, laying 110, ahead of 106 by Sydney in this year's elimination final, and held North Melbourne scoreless in the final term. North Melbourne had suffered a significant blow in the opening minutes when last week's best-afield, the lively Jenna Bruton, was felled by a right foot injury, unable to put any weight on the leg. The first quarter itself was tense and scrappy, Courtney Hodder and Mia King themselves laying eight and seven tackles, respectively. Chances deep in attack were few and far between. After a week of being in the headlines (presumably much to the humble Garner's own distaste) after missing out once again in the AFLW best and fairest count, it took a beautiful Garner set shot from 48m to kick the opening
goal, coming 16 minutes into the game. Sometimes in Grand Finals it's as simple as taking your chances, and that's what Charlie Mullins did from the 50m mark, wheeling and kicking to the top of the square, with the ball skipping through an out-of-alignment North defence for the Lions' first. GET YOUR HANDS ON PREMIERSHIP MEMORABILIA Koenen was swung onto Garner, starting in the middle, and while she didn't completely shut down the superstar, her influence was somewhat quelled. "Zombie" from Irish band The Cranberries hit the PA as Orla O'Dwyer kicked a clever bouncing snap early in the third, giving Brisbane the lead for the first time in the game. It signalled the steely resolve of the Brisbane side, lifting its pressure around the contest and beginning to turn the tide in the clearances. The heavy Northdominated crowd could sense the turning tide, rising in volume in an attempt to urge their side forward. It worked. Kate Shierlaw – who had barely been sighted to this point – took a strong contested mark, beating out
two Brisbane opponents, and converted truly from a tight angle to snatch back the lead. Ash Riddell streamed out of the centre, three North players laid a tackle (with an excitable Riddell celebrating before the umpire had even called holding the ball), with Alice O'Loughlin kicking truly. But there was a final twist in the tale yet, with the polarising Davidson – who Lions fans love while she gets under the skin of opposition supporters – shook off her knee injury and stood tall to kick not just the first, but the second of the final term as well. Integral Brisbane winger Sophie Conway underwent a head injury assessment at three-quarter time and into the fourth term, but returned, while the tough-as-nails Shannon Campbell received a series of heavy knocks throughout the game. Garner was once again the Roos' best with 24 and two goals, while Mia King stood tall in the contest, recording a game-high 12 clearances and 19 touches. Belle Dawes ran her heart out, with a game-high 18 contested possessions, 20 touches and 13 tackles, while Ally Anderson bobbed up at important moments to finish with 20 disposals and six clearances.
