INDIA OUT OF WORLD CUP 2015, AUSTRALIA MAY WIN AGAIN !
Australia sets final date with New Zealand after resounding 95-run win
India’s World Cup campaign juddered to a halt after a 95-run defeat to Australia in the semifinal here on Thursday. Steve Smith made a splendid century as Australia posted a massive 328 batting first. In response, India sank to 233 all out, done in by the pressure of a big chase and the home team’s excellent fast bowling.
Australia will face New Zealand in the final in Melbourne on Sunday. Smith, who flourished against India in the Test series, made an unruffled, classy 105, stitching a partnership of 182 runs for the second wicket with Aaron Finch.
India’s fast bowlers, who played a vital role in its unbeaten run to the semifinals, proved expensive. Umesh Yadav took four important wickets but he leaked 72 runs from nine overs. No team had made over 300 in a World Cup semifinal; India was always going to be running uphill.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan made bright starts at the beginning of the run chase but the openers, and Virat Kohli, fell in the space of some 30 minutes. M.S. Dhoni made a valiant 65, but the verdict had long been read.
Although disappointed by its failure, India will not be ashamed. The team began the campaign amidst low expectations after a poor series in Australia. Its turnaround was as swift as it was surprising.
The reign ends
India’s World Cup dreams died a gory death at the Sydney Cricket Ground. M.S. Dhoni’s lot had sailed full-speed into the semifinals, but here it bumped into an opponent simply superior, and faltered. Australia recorded a resounding 95-run victory on Thursday to storm into the final, where New Zealand, its neighbour across the Tasman Sea, awaits.
Steve Smith, an irremovable thorn in India’s side during the Test series, scored a supremely fluent century as the home side racked up 328. It is a tall total in ordinary circumstances; in a World Cup semifinal, it acquires an immense weight. Australia’s fast bowlers then delivered a commanding performance as India was bowled out for 233 inside 47 overs.
It made a reasonably healthy beginning to the run chase, despite the openers having endured early scares. They added 76 runs for the first wicket, with Shikhar Dhawan striking half a dozen boundaries in quick succession. The left-hander ought to have carried on to a big score, but he charged down the pitch to Josh Hazlewood and holed out to deep cover for 45.
Virat Kohli, India’s great hope, was bogged down from the outset. After playing out a maiden off Hazlewood, he attempted to pull Mitchell Johnson, but only succeeded in getting a top edge that was swallowed by Haddin.
When Rohit was bowled for 34 by an in-ducker from Johnson, India had lost its top three batsmen in the space of 32 balls, for the addition of only 15 runs to the total.
Thereon in, India was always fighting a losing battle. M.S. Dhoni made a gallant 65, striking a few lusty blows towards the end, but it was to make little difference to the outcome.
Ravindra Jadeja and he were run out by a pair of laser-guided throws, from Smith and Glenn Maxwell respectively. Australia had not lost a World Cup semifinal on six previous occasions; it was not about to be beaten on its own patch now.
Near-flawless partnership
At the heart of the Australian effort lay a near-flawless partnership of 182 runs between Smith and Finch. Umesh Yadav had dismissed David Warner cheaply, after Michael Clarke had won an important toss and elected to bat first.
But, while Finch plodded along, Smith batted delightfully. He manoeuvred the ball into gaps, chipped it over the infield, and ran his singles and twos hard. He counter-punched beautifully, taking 16 runs off Umesh in the 10th over, as he ensured India never felt comfortable at any stage. Smith can be an awkward batsman at the crease, what with all his twitching, but he is a hugely gifted player. He made 769 runs in the Test matches against India; he appears to have carried that form into the World Cup.
When there were opportunities, he took them, launching Jadeja and Mohammed Shami over the ropes. Smith raised his fourth ODI hundred off 89 balls, pulling the latter to the square leg boundary. Shami had a disappointing afternoon, bowling his worst spell of the tournament.
Quick wickets
Australia had motored to 197 for one in 34 overs, at which point there seemed infinite potential for damage, but India dragged it back spectacularly. Umesh got rid of Smith, and when Maxwell threatened to cause havoc a little later, Ashwin suckered him into playing a sweep shot that nestled neatly in fine-leg’s arms.
Finch and Michael Clarke fell pulling Umesh and Mohit respectively — Australia had lost three for 16 in 29 balls. Sagging Indian spirits were at once lifted as the run-rate sank. Every dot ball was cheered by a hugely vocal crowd; India’s fielding, which had been spirited throughout the tournament, was exceptional here.
Umesh finished with four for 72 from nine overs — expensive, but with wickets at critical junctures. However, Australia bats deep, and despite the frequent disruptions, there was enough muscle to bludgeon 57 off the final five overs. India fell woefully short.
Australia
Australia has entered its seventh WC final and maintained its unbeaten
record in semifinals.
record in semifinals.
Steve Smith scored 5 centuries and 921 runs across 4 Test matches and an ODI match
India
India’s defeat ends a run of 11 successive wins inWorld Cups
stretching
back to the 2011.
› India’s third defeat in a World Cup semifinal (1987, 1996 and 2015).
› First time that India failed to bowl out a side in this World Cup
› India conceded the most runs in this match than any other in this WC
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