India thump Australia by 24-runs, enter semis: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024
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- Ashok Dhamija
- 25 Jun, 2024
A 41-ball 92 run blitzkrieg by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma upfront coupled with three wickets haul by left arm pacer Arshdeep Singh and two by left arm orthodox spinner Kuldeep Yadav saw the ‘Men in Blue’ beat Australia by 24 runs, after setting a formidable target of 206, in their last Group 1 Super-8 game in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Luciawest Indies on Monday night.
The win ensured India extend their supremacy over their arch rivals in the shorter format of the game to 4-2 in the T20 World Cup and also top the Group 1 with six points and book a place in the semi-final against England.
Put in to bat India after lost their opener Virat Kohli for a duck to pacer Josh Hazlewood, his second in the current edition of the tourney in the second over of the match. Rohit, like a man possessed however took the attack to the opposition and in particular Mitchell Starc in the power play. Picking up the length of the ball early, he slammed 29 runs in his second over which included four sixes and a four with effortless ease and sheer timings on either side of the wicket. Showing scant respect for former Australian pacer Pat Cummings he smashed a 100m six and became the first player to hit 200 sixes in T20 Internationals. The hit-man followed by two fours to bring up the Indian fifty in 4.5 overs, before registering his half century in 19-ball with a single in the very next ball in the company of Rishabh Pant to ensure India score 60 for 1 in the powerplay. The flourishing 87 run alliance for the second wicket of 37-ball between the two was cut short by Marcus Stoinis in the eight over with the wicket of Rishabh (15), not before the all-rounder had conceded 17 runs, 15 of which was scored by Rohit (4,6,6,1) off four consecutive deliveries. Starc in his second spell soon after the half way stage accounted for a well set Indian skipper who was eyeing his maiden triple figure mark with a searing Yorker round the wicket, after the batter edged it on to his stumps. The Indian middle order led by Suryakumar Yadav (31), Shivam Dube (28) and Hardik Pandya (27 not out ) kept up the momentum to ensure India post 205 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs.
An under pressure Australia who had sensationally lost their earlier Super-8 league match to minnows Afghanistan, desperately looking for a win lost their opener David Warner (6) to Arshdeep in the very first over of their run chase. Southpaw Travis Head in the company of his skipper Mitchell Marsh dominated the Indian bowlers soon after to ensure Australia make the best of the field restrictions to score 65 in the first six overs, even as the later got a reprieve from Arshdeep early on. The introduction of Kuldeep soon after saw him get the better of Marsh (37) thanks to a sensational one handed catch by air bound Axar Patel at deep square leg and soon castled the dangerous Glenn Maxwell (20). Axar’s dismissal of Stoinis (2) soon after and a well set Head (76) by Jasprit Bumrah who earlier had to face the heat of the opener in the powerplay swung the momentum India’s way. Defending 29 runs in the final over Hardik Pandya’s guile ensured Australia fell short as they managed to score 181 for 7 in the end.
Mitchell Marsh, Australia Skipper post the match said, “It's disappointing. We still have a chance technically of making it to the semi-finals, but India outplayed us today.India are a better team. Rohit Sharma is a world-class player, and we've seen that for the past 15 years. He took the game away from us at the start.There's more belief in the dressing room. In a run chase like that, you have to keep yourselves in the game and take it deep. But India were strong in the end with the ball."
Rohit Sharma, Indian skipper and Player of the Match who played a match-defining knock in the battle between the world’s top-two ranked sides, in a top-order assault that put his team in control of the match right said “ "It's quite satisfying, especially when you are playing like that. We know Australia quite well. Overall, as a team, we played well and kept doing the things that we are supposed to do.200 is a good score, but when you're playing on a ground like this where wind is a big factor, anything is possible. We used the conditions well. You need to understand what needs to be done as individuals. Whoever steps up needs to do their job. It is pleasing to see how we were going through the overs and taking wickets as well.We understand the strength Kuldeep has. The New York wickets were seamer-friendly, and unfortunately, he had to miss out. He has come here and done the job for us in the last two games. That's what I am looking for from the team: everyone playing their role perfectly."
Semi-final schedule confirmed for T20 World Cup
The dates, teams and venues have been confirmed for the knockout stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
South Africa finished the Super Eight stage at the top of Group 2 and the Proteas will look to maintain their unbeaten status at the tournament when they take on Afghanistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday.
Afghanistan booked their place in the final four when they overcame Bangladesh's fight in the final game of the Super Eights in St Vincent. After scoring 115/5 in the first innings, Afghanistan bowled out Bangladesh for 105 in a rain-affected game, securing an 8-run win (DLS method).
The second semi-final will take place in Guyana on Thursday, with unbeaten India matched up against reigning T20 World Cup champions England.
India ensured their spot in the semis with an impressive victory over Australia on Monday and will take on Jos Buttler's side in a rematch of their one-sided contest at the most recent T20 World Cup in Australia two years ago.
England cruised to a 10-wicket triumph over India at the Adelaide Oval on that occasion on their way to a second Men's T20 World Cup title.
Semi-final schedule (IST):
Semi-final 1: South Africa v Afghanistan, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, Thursday 27 June (6:00 AM, IST)
Semi-final 2: India v England, Guyana National Stadium, Guyana, Thursday 27 June (8:00 PM, IST)
Brief Scores (Group I League Match):
India - 205 for 5 in 20 overs ( Rohit Sharma 92 (41b: 7x4s, 8x6s) , Suryakumar Yadav 31 (16b: 3x4s, 2x6s), Shivam Dube 28 (22b: 2x4s, 1x6), Hardik Pandya 27* (17b: 1x5, 2x6); Mitchell Starc 2/45, Marcus Stoinis 2/56, Josh Hazlewood 1/14) beat Australia: 181 for 7 in 20 Overs (Travis Head 76 (43b: 9x4s, 4x6s), Mitchell Marsh 37 (28b: 3x4s, 2x6s), Glenn Maxwell 20 (12b: 2x4s); Arshdeep Singh 3/37, Kuldeep Yadav 2/24, Jasprit Bumrah 1/29, Axar Patel 1/21) by 24 runs. Player of the Match: Rohit Sharma (India)
Photo Above: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front, slammed eight sixes in his 92 eun knock, the most ever by an any batter in a T20I against Australia and also took a crucial catch of rival opener Travis Head was named the Player of the Match (Photo courtesy The-ICC)