New Delhi: Rohit Sharma’s counter punching 92 knock set up a 24-run win for India over Australia in their final T20 World Cup Super Eight game in Gros-Islet, St Lucia, on Monday to march into the semi-finals where thwy would face England.
The Indian skipper smashed a 41-ball 92-run knock including seven fours and eight sixes that laid a platform for India to post a comanding total of 205-5 at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium after Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh won the toss and elected to bowl.
India then took up survived an onslaught from Travis Head, who scored 76 off 53 balls, nine fours and four sixes, to restrict the Aussies to 181/7.
Australia slumoed to their second consecutive defeat and their semi-final hopes rest on the outcome of the Bangladesh vs Afghanistan game.
India have won all their matches in the tournament so far. They now have most wins in T20 World Cup, with 34 victories, one more than Sri Lanka.
Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav (2/24) bowled well under pressure in the middle overs, while Arshdeep Singh as also smart as he claimed 3/37.
Earlier, Rohit took Virat Kohli’s dismissal for a duck in stride as he conter punched to put Australia on the backfoot.
He took a particular liking for ace pacer Mitchell Starc, smashing 29 runs in his second over, including four sixes and a four to give India’s innings momentum.
By the time Starc returned to dismiss the India captain in the 11th over, the flow of runs tilted the balance in India’s favour.
Even after his exit, Suryakumar Yadav (31 off 16 balls) and Shivam Dube (28 off 22) maintained the tempo with big hits before Hardik Pandya (27 off 17) finished the India innings in typical fashion.
Brief scores:
India: 205/5 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 92; Josh Hazlewood 1/14).
Australia: 181/7 in 20 overs (Travis Head 76; Kuldeep Yadav 2/24, Arshdeep Singh 3/37).
India qualify for the T20 World Cup semis with a 24-run win over Australia in their last Super Eights match in Saint Lucia. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
