WC semi-final: India lose to Australia by 95 runs

Australia meet New Zealand in the final tie on Sunday

India's World Cup campaign ended on Thursday as the visitors lost to co-hosts Australia in the semi-final match by 95 runs. Chasing a stiff target of 329 runs team India were all out for 233 in 46.5 overs. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the highest run-getter for India; he played a knock of 65 off as many balls. Shikhar Dhawan scored 45 off 58, and Ajinkya Rahane garnered 44 off 58 balls. No other batsman could excced the individual total of 35.

Earlier on Thursday, batting first after winning the toss, Australia posted a big total of 328 runs for 7 wickets in 50 overs, driven by the impressive innings of Steven Smith (105) and Aaron Finch (81).
Co-hosts of the tournament, Australia and New Zealand, will clash in the final match on Sunday.

MATCH AT A GLANCE

Australia: 328 for 7 in 50 overs
India: 233 runs in 46.5 overs
Result: Australia win by 95 runs
Man of the match: Steven Smith

INDIA INNINGS
Brief scorecard

R Sharma: b Johnson 34 off 48 balls

S Dhawan: c Maxwell b Hazlewood 45 off 41 balls

V Kohli: c Haddin b Johnson 1 off 13 balls

A Rahane: c Haddin b Starc 44 off 68 balls

S Raina: c Haddin b Faulkner 7 off 11 balls

MS Dhoni: run out (Maxwell) 65 off 65 balls

R Jadeja: run out (Smith) 16 off 17 balls

R Ashwin: b Faulkner 5 off 13 balls

Mohammed Shami: (Not out) 1 off 1 ball

M Sharma: b Faulkner 0 off 1 ball

U Yadav: b Starc 0 off 5 balls

Total: 233 runs off 281 balls

0-10 overs

Shikhar Dhawan is continuing with his impressive form in this World Cup, scoring briskly and keeping India in touching distance with Australia. The highlight of the innings so far was the 14 runs he took off James Faulkner in the 10th over. Rohit Sharma, at the other end, has anchored the innings well, playing cautiously. Michael Clarke needs to change things up to stop Dhawan getting away. The introduction of a slow bowler will help put the brakes on scoring. Both teams are neck and neck at the moment but India will have to keep scoring swiftly to have any chance of chasing this down.

10-20 overs

Two quick strikes from Mitchell Johnson have left India with a mountain to climb in their chase of a mammoth Aussie target. Virat Kohli — who was due a big performance — was the first of Johnson’s victims, miscuing a pull shot off a well-directed short delivery. The Indian vice-captain made just 1 run off 13 balls. Rohit Sharma was cleaned up a few deliveries later to a ball that came in sharply. Ajinkya Rahane has been joined by Suresh Raina in the middle. The duo needs to rebuild and stitch together a partnership. With the required run rate climbing all the time, Australia look firmly in control of this match. India needs to be unbelievably well to pull this off.

20-30 overs

Indian skipper M S Dhoni will have to play the knock of his life to rescue his team from this situation. The runs have dried up and Ajinkya Rahane has failed to up the scoring at the other end. It was always going to be difficult for India after the early departures of Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina, India’s two go-to men when the team has to chase big totals. The batting powerplay will be critical for both teams. A couple of wickets for Australia will put them out of sight, while a productive one for India will bring them right back into the game. But it is difficult to see Australia losing from here. They look in complete command.

30-46.5 overs

The curtains have finally come down. After enchanting us with some outstanding cricket over the past month and a half, India have ended their World Cup campaign with a whimper, losing to Australia by 95 runs. In the end, 328 proved far too many for the men in blue. Even a valiant run-a-ball 65 from skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni could not propel them to victory. Australia, on the other hand, were terrific in the field — picking up regular wickets and never letting India run away with the game.

Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson bowled with pace and venom and were ably assisted by James Faulkner, who came back well to pick up three wickets after being taken apart by Shikhar Dhawan early on. No Indian batsman, except Dhoni, could make much of the decent start the team got. Australia were undoubtedly the better side on the day and would be keen to lift a record fifth world title when they face New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.


AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Brief scorecard

Aaron Finch:  c Dhawan b Yadav 81 off 116 balls

David Warner: c Kohli b Yadav 12 off 7 balls

Steven Smith: c RG Sharma b Yadav 105 off 93 balls

Glen Maxwell: c Rahane b Ashwin 23 off 14 balls 

Shane Watson: c Rahane b M Sharma 28 off 30 balls 

Michael Clarke: c RG Sharma b M Sharma 10 off 12 balls

James Faulkner: b Yadav 21 off 12 balls 

Brad Haddin: Not Out  7 off 7 balls

Mitchell Johnson: Not out 27 off 9 balls

Total: 328 runs off 300 balls

0-10 overs

After losing David Warner early in the piece, Australia have slowly begun rebuilding with Aaron Finch and Steven Smith holding fort in the middle. Warner was caught by Virat Kohli off the bowling of Umesh Yadav in the fourth over of the game. The Indian pace duo of Yadav and Mohammed Shami seems to have made the most of whatever little there is on offer on a batting-friendly wicket at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 

However, both Finch and Smith have weathered the early storm well. The plan seems to be simple — keep wickets in hand and accelerate in the middle overs. Despite the sedate start, Australia are going at a healthy run-rate — scoring 57 in the first 10 overs. For India, the biggest threat will be Smith, who was prolific against the same Indian attack in the Test series earlier in the summer.

10-20 overs

A solid stand between Aaron Finch and Steven Smith has taken Australia past the 100-run mark as they look well on their way to a big total. Smith has notched up yet another half-century against India, and Finch, who started slow, is scoring more freely. For India, the spinners need to pick up a few quick wickets. Ravichandran Ashwin, who has started well, needs to put a squeeze on the scoring and force the batsmen into making mistakes. With Smith going strong and the likes of Michael Clarke, Glenn Maxwell and Shane Watson to follow, there could be some difficulty ahead for India.

20-30 overs

India desperately need a wicket from somewhere. Aaron Finch has stroked his way to a subdued fifty, while Smith has his eyes set on a big hundred. Before the match started, India’s team director Ravi Shastri said the spinners would play a pivotal role on a slow Syndey Cricket Ground wicket. But there have been no signs of that so far. The Aussies have dealt with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja rather comfortably, easily churning the strike over. Ashwin has been economical so far — going at under four runs an over — but only wickets can get India back into the game. One feels batting powerplay might determine how much Australia end up getting.

30-40 overs

It’s Steven Smith yet again. After tormenting India in the Test series, it’s the shorter format this time around. But India must be relieved that they have finally got rid of him after a thoroughly entertaining 93-ball 105, studded with 11 boundaries and two sixes. Glenn Maxwell came in after Smith’s dismissal, scoring a breezy 14-ball 23 and then falling to Ravichandran Ashwin. Aaron Finch was soon to follow, done in by a short ball from Umesh Yadav. India have pulled things back nicely in the batting powerplay, but it will be difficult to stop Australia from crossing 300. As for Australia, it’s time skipper Michael Clarke, who has had a disappointing World Cup so far, stood up and helped his team post a big total.

40-50 overs

We were expecting Mitchell Johnson to do some damage with the ball but it was his performance with bat that saw Australia score a daunting 328. The southpaw’s quickfire nine-ball 27 gave Australia the impetus they needed in the last few overs. He was severe on Mohammed Shami in the penultimate over of the innings, hitting him for three back-to-back boundaries. James Faulkner did his bit with the bat as well, scoring a 12-ball 21. With the ball expected to move around under the lights, 329 will be a stiff target for India. But with the top-order in good form, this match is far from over. India must see off the new ball and keep wickets in hand if they are to chase this down.