India marched into the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 with a comprehensive win over Australia at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Saint Lucia on Monday. Captain Rohit Sharma was the star of the show as his blistering innings – 92 off 41 – set the base for what turned out to be a winning total.
Having posted 205/5 riding on Rohit’s fabulous innings, India then limited Australia to 181/7 to win by 24 runs. India will now face England in the second semi-final.
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Australia though threatened to chase down the big total despite Arshdeep Singh accounting for opener David Warner in the first over of the chase. It was that man Travis Head again who unleashed a flurry of boundaries on a belter to momentarily reignite the memories of 2023 ODI World Cup final.
Head led a strong response to Rohit’s assault with a blistering half-century of his own as he took Australia to 87/1 in 8.5 overs. A moment of magic followed with Axar Patel taking a mind-boggling one-handed catch in the deep to get rid of Australia captain Mitchell Marsh on 37 and break the threatening partnership.
Next man Glenn Maxwell was in prime form too as he belted a four before bringing out the reverse hit for a six off Ravindra Jadeja. Kuldeep Yadav lured him into a slog sweep and cleaned him up on 20.
Maxwell’s dismissal allowed India to take control but it was the wicket of Head – 76 off 43 – that truly shut the doors on the Aussies.
This was after Rohit blazed away on a batting paradise, a rarity in the ongoing competition. Australia put India in to bat first and they were jolted early with Virat Kohli’s miserable run continuing after he was out for a five-ball duck to Josh Hazlewood (1/14).
However, an unfazed Rohit looked intent on capitalising on the conducive batting conditions as he belted seven fours and eight sixes including his 200th in the format.
Rohit took a shine to Mitchell Starc as India plundered 29 runs from the left-arm pacer’s over that four sixes and a four. It was the most expensive over by Starc in a T20I.
Rohit didn’t spare Pat Cummins either who came into this match with consecutive hat-tricks two his name. A six over deep midwicket left the ball rolling over the roof before and then rain forced a short break before Rohit resumed his assault to complete his half-century off just 19th delivery.
None of the Australian bowlers barring Hazlewood was allowed to settle with Marcus Stoinis being clobbered for 56 runs in his four overs.
Rohit was inching towards three figures when he edged one onto the stumps to be bowled on 92 off 41 by Starc.
Rishabh Pant made 15 off 14 while Suryakumar Yadav (31 off 15), Hardik Pandya (27 not out off 17) and Shivam Dube (28 off 22) made useful contributions too but off the last five overs, India could only muster 43 runs for the loss of one wicket.
Brief Scores: India 205/5 (Rohit Sharma 92, Suryakumar Yadav 31; Mitchell Starc 2/45) beat Australia (Travis Head 76, Mitchell Marsh 37; Arshdeep Singh 3/37, Kuldeep Yadav 2/24) by 24 runs.
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