‘This pips it all’: Australia breaks a billion hearts with ‘unbelievable’ World Cup win

Even the English were forced to admit this was the “greatest World Cup victory” for any team after Australia broke a billion hearts.

Australia has secured the greatest victory in its one-day history - and perhaps a top 10 Aussie sporting moment of all time - by spoiling what appeared to be an Indian coronation in the World Cup Final.

A supreme performance with the ball led by captain Pat Cummins and one of the great innings from Travis Head secured a six-wicket win with 42 balls to spare and left the hosts a sobbing mess.

While it may not have been the most thrilling of finals, it was a stunning victory nonetheless as Head and Marnus Labuschagne overcame some early blushes to silence the 120,000-strong pro-Indian crowd in the stadium, and more than a billion more watching from home.

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“What we’ve achieved today is unbelievable,” said Marnus Labuschagne, who made an unbeaten half century and combined with Head for a 192-run stand.

“It’s the best achievement I’ve ever been a part of.

“Just to come to India, you know, (they were) 10 from 10 with one to play — they’ve been the team of the tournament. They’ve played unbelievable.

“But you knew if we played our best cricket, we were a chance. And you know, our bowlers were sensational and then Travis put on a hell of a display and it was great to be a part of it with him.”

“We saved our best for last,” added Cummins, after leading Australia to a World Test Championship final victory, an Ashes retention and now a World Cup in the span of a few months.

“We will remember this year for a long, long time. (But) this pips it all.”

Australia's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)

Chasing 241, Australia dropped to 3/47 and it was game on.

But Head blasted his way to 137 off 120 balls before he was caught on the boundary by Shubman Gill with Australia needing just two runs.

It ended a remarkable stand with Labuschagne, who was 58 not out at the end off 110 balls.

While it wasn’t fast from Labuschagne, it was what was required as the Aussies finished it off with seven full overs remaining.

It was a brutal result for India, who went through the tournament undefeated until falling at the last hurdle.

In commentary, Ian Smith said that Australia’s win had “broke a billion hearts along the way”.

The previous three World Cups were all won by the host nation — England (2019), Australia (2015) and India (2011). The three before that all went to Australia on the road — in the West Indies (2007), South Africa (2003) and England (1999).

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said this win by Cummins’ men topped them all.

“An incredible achievement against all the odds against a great team in there own backyard,” Vaughan tweeted. “I personally have this as the greatest World Cup victory for a team. To win here in India is hardest place to claim the trophy.”

For Australia, it was a brilliant comeback after losing their first two games of the tournament to India and South Africa, the teams they defeated in the final and semi-final respectively.

Australia have done it! Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

Former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting paid tribute to the tremendous bounce back, which saw Australia win its last nine matches to claim the nation’s sixth World Cup title.

For the record, India and the West Indies are equal second on the list of most World Cup titles with two each.

“They had their backs to the walls from the very first two games of this tournament,” Ponting said.

“They weren’t at their best, nowhere near their best. They had to dig deep. And haven’t they done that?

“The legacy of Australian teams continued through World Cups, continually building, continually getting better and peaking at the right time and winning big games and big moments.

“Pat Cummins and his men, along with the coaching staff of Andrew McDonald, hold your heads up high boys. It’s been a fantastic campaign and one that you’ve thoroughly deserved to win.”

Head produced an incredible performance, adding the player of the match in the World Cup Final to his player of the match in the semi-final against South Africa and the World Test Championship Final, which was also against India.

That was one of the great innings. Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

“Not in a million years,” Head said. “What an amazing day. Just thrilled to be a part of it.”

Head had come into the tournament late after he broke his hand in the series against South Africa before the World Cup.

Head’s innings was just the seventh World Cup Final hundred following Viv Richards in 1979, Clive Lloyd in 1983, Aravinda de Silva in 1996, Ricky Ponting in 2003, Adam Gilchrist in 2007 and Mahela Jayawardene in 2011.

And now Travis Head, 2023.

Asked about how it feels to be on the list of Aussie World Cup Final centurions along with Ponting and Gilchrist, Head remained humble.

“I’m definitely third on that list,” Head laughed. “It’s a nice one to join. Again, just nice

to be here and it’s nice to contribute. Yeah, like I just said to the boys, I’m looking forward to the reunion.”

Head’s heroics followed another superb performance from the Australian bowlers, who were at their best in the knockout matches.

Mitchell Starc (3/55) struck first by removing Shubman Gill, but there were worrying signs as Rohit Sharma (47 from 31) blasted the hosts to 1/76 midway through the 10th over.

But a sensational catch by Head ended the Sharma onslaught and when Cummins (2/34) removed Shreyas Iyer, Australia was back in charge at 3/81.

The double strike completely dried up the Indian runs as Virat Kohli (54 from 63) and KL Rahul (66 from 107) shut up shop.

India hit just two boundaries between overs 11 and 40 - the joint fewest during that phase in any World Cup innings.

The plan was to accelerate at the end but they never got the chance as Cummins broke the partnership by bowling Kohli and then Josh Hazlewood shook off some early blows from Rohit to claim a pair of scalps.

Adam Zampa chipped in with one to match the record for the most wickets at a World Cup and Rohit’s mind India was left “20 to 30 runs” short.

“The result hasn’t gone our way and we know that we were not good enough on the day. But proud of the team,” Rohit said.

“With 240 on the board, we wanted early wickets but credit to Travis Head and Marnus. They put us completely out of the game and I thought the wicket got better to bat on under lights.”