Australia defeats hosts India to win its sixth World Cup title as Travis Head scores a century

Australia stunned hosts India in Ahmedabad to win the men's Cricket World Cup for a sixth time. Australia dismissed their previously unbeaten opponents for 240 before Travis Head's sensational century led them to victory with seven overs to spare. After their bowlers took advantage of a slow pitch, Australia were reduced to 47-3 as India hit back in an electric new-ball spell. However, Head and Marnus Labuschagne calmly weathered the storm with a stand of 192 as Indian hope drifted away from the world's largest cricket stadium.

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 fell at the final hurdle.

Head did not play in the first four games of Australia's campaign because of a broken hand, but Australia kept him in their squad, knowing the match-winning quality he possesses. He scored 109 in his first appearance against New Zealand but this innings was on another level as he first dealt with intense pressure before punishing the bowling. After his opening partner Warner nicked the first ball of the chase through the slips, Head crashed two boundaries to settle Australian nerves.

India took the upper hand in the manic opening period but also gave up 15 extras in the powerplay alone, those in blue seemingly too eager to defend their low score. Batting became easier on a slow pitch that had offered more turn in the day, and Head took advantage. He cracked 14 fours and four sixes, with the sixes all pumped high over mid-wicket.

Head's innings will take the headlines, but this victory was built on a sensational performance with the ball and a brave decision to bowl first at the toss by Pat Cummins. Captain Rohit Sharma gave India a rapid start with 47 from 31 balls, but from 76-1 in the 10th over, Australia applied a stranglehold on India's star-studded batting line-up and did not let go.

India's lower order had hardly been needed in this tournament, and when finally called upon, Ravindra Jadeja managed only nine and Suryakumar Yadav 18 with just four boundaries coming after the first 10 overs. India's worst performance with the bat came at the worst possible time in the tournament, but huge credit must go to Cummins and his champion attack.