Fri | Jun 28, 2024

India leave Aussies struggling for final-four spot

Published:Tuesday | June 25, 2024 | 12:09 AM
India’s captain Rohit Sharma celebrates after scoring a half-century on his way to 92 against Australia during an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia yesterday.
AP
India’s captain Rohit Sharma celebrates after scoring a half-century on his way to 92 against Australia during an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia yesterday.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

INDIA BATTERED Australia by 24 runs in their vital final game of the Super Eights yesterday, to put the 2021 champions on the brink of elimination from the Twenty20 World Cup.

Captain Rohit Sharma pummelled the Australian attack in scoring 92 off 41 deliveries as India piled up 205 for five from their 20 overs, after they were sent in at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.

Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav (31), Shivan Dube (28) and Hardik Pandya (27 not out) produced cameos after Rohit perished in the 12th over, as India romped to their highest total of the showpiece.

Needing a win in order to secure qualification for the semifinals, Australia were then limited to 181 for seven, despite Travis Head’s 76 off 43 deliveries.

Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh snatched three for 37 and left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, two for 24, as India pegged Australia back after they had raced to 87 for one at the end of the ninth over.

While India secured a semifinal berth against titleholders England, Australia were left with an anxious wait for the result of the last Group 1 match late last night between Afghanistan and Bangladesh, before knowing their fate in the tournament.

At the start of Afghanistan’s game against Bangladesh last night, Australia were second in the group on two points but a win for Afghanistan would see them overtake the Aussies and their seal semifinal spot.

A defeat would have likely seen Australia through.

“You’ve got to wait until late tonight to find out,” fast bowler Josh Hazlewood said yesterday.

“We obviously can’t do anything else than what we’ve done and we’ll be hoping that Bangladesh can get the job done.

“I assume we’ll be pretty much together watching that game and hoping for the best.”

Virat Kohli’s dodgy form continued when he was dismissed without scoring in the second over but Rohit counter-attacked brilliantly, lashing seven fours and eight sixes in a stunning assault.

He put on 87 for the second wicket with Rishabh Pant (15) and 34 for the third with Suryakumar, who then counted three fours and two sixes in a 16-ball knock in posting a further 32 for the fourth with Dube.

Hardik arrived late to blast a four and two sixes in a 17-ball cameo to inspire a 35-run, unbroken sixth-wicket stand with Dube.

Head spearheaded Australia’s run chase, punching nine fours and four sixes in an 81-run second-wicket partnership with captain Mitchell Marsh (37) and then in a 41-run third-wicket stand with Glenn Maxwell (20).

However, once Maxwell misread one from Kuldeep and was bowled at the start of the 14th over, the Australia challenge diminished, especially after Head was fifth out in the 17th over.