St Lucia : India defeated Australia by 24 runs at Daren Sammy Stadium, St Lucia to qualify for Semi Final at Guyana against England.
India defending 206 runs , despite picking David Warner (6) early were pushed to backfoot by Travis Head (76) & Mitchell Marsh (37) 81 runs partnership.
Even after Marsh’s departure Head along with Glenn Maxwell (20) continued to assault India bowlers with 41 runs partnership , bringing score to 128-2 (13).
With Kuldeep Yadav (2/24) & Jasprit Bumrah (1/29) dismissing Maxwell & Head respectively, tables turned in India’s favour as run flow stopped & wickets continued to tumble.
Arshdeep Singh (3/37) added salt to the wounds troubling the lower middle order.
After 20 overs, Australia managed 181-7 (20), falling short by 24 runs.
In 1st Innings, India Batting 1st , lost Virat Kohli (0) for a duck.
Skipper Rohit Sharma (92) took Australia bowlers to cleaners, building vital partnerships with Risabh Pant (15) & Surya Kumar Yadav (31).
Hardik Pandya (27*) cameo, Shivam Dube (28), Ravindra Jadeja (9*) combined efforts helped India end with a mammoth 205-5 (20).
Rohit Sharma was adjourned the Man of The Match for his heroic Batting display.
India now officially entered Semi final & will play England at Guyana on Thursday.
Australia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan fate will be decided in the Match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh, where, if Afghanistan win they’ll make it to Semis.
If Bangladesh win by a small margin, Australia will be in Semis, however, a 60+ runs win by Bangladesh will see them in semis for 1st time in T20 Wc.
Brief Scorecard :
1st Innings :
Ind : 205-5 (20)
Rohit Sharma : 92 (41)
Surya Kumar Yadav : 31 (16)
2nd Innings :
Aus : 181-7 (20)
Travis Head : 76 (43)
Mitchell Marsh : 37 (28)
Ind
Arshdeep Singh : 3/37
Kuldeep Yadav : 2/24
Result : India win by 24 Runs
