In a stunning display reminiscent of his peak white-ball form, Rohit Sharma blasted a 41-ball 92 to propel India to a 24-run victory over Australia in St. Lucia. While Travis Head showcased his brilliance, reminiscent of his 2023 ODI World Cup final performance, Kuldeep Yadav spellbound the Aussies, ensuring their chase crumbled after the critical dismissals of Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and, subsequently, Head.
Where was the game won?
India’s victory was secured in the first half of their innings, courtesy of Rohit’s aggressive onslaught. Despite challenging conditions and a tricky pitch, Rohit stood out with his clean hitting, particularly during a devastating assault on Mitchell Starc. This explosive start set the tone and put India in a commanding position, making their total of 205 always seem slightly beyond reach for Australia, reports Live Cricket Score.
INDIA
Powerplay: Rohit rips into Australia’s bowlers
Phase score: India 60/1 [RR: 10.00, 4s/6s: 5/5]
India’s innings began with a jolt as Virat Kohli fell for a duck in the second over, continuing his lean patch. However, Rohit Sharma counterattacked fiercely, particularly against Starc, who was hammered for 29 runs in a single over. This aggressive approach placed India in a dominant position early on, putting significant pressure on the Australian bowlers.
Middleovers: India keeps the momentum going
Phase score: India 102/3 [RR: 11.33, 4s/6s: 8/7]
Australia tried to stem the flow of runs after the powerplay, but Rohit, supported by Suryakumar Yadav, kept the momentum going. Despite losing Rishabh Pant early, the duo managed to add 54 runs in just four overs. Starc’s return brought some relief for Australia, as he quickly dismissed Rohit and Suryakumar, but by then, India had already set a strong foundation.
Death overs: Australia do damage control, but India ends on a strong score
Phase score: India 43/1 [RR: 8.60, 4s/6s: 3/1]
Australia restricted India’s scoring in the final overs, conceding only four boundaries. Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins bowled effectively, preventing India from reaching a potentially higher score. However, the total of 205 remained formidable.
AUSTRALIA
Powerplay: Warner falls, but Head and Marsh motor along
Phase score: Australia 65/1 [RR: 10.83, 4s/6s: 7/4]
Australia’s chase began similarly to India’s innings, losing David Warner early to Arshdeep Singh. However, Head and Marsh quickly counterattacked, putting India on the back foot by scoring heavily in the powerplay. Their aggressive approach initially kept Australia in the game.
Middleovers: Australia explodes, but Kuldeep-Axar produce game-defining moments
Phase score: Australia 76/3 [RR: 8.44, 4s/6s: 4/6]
The middle overs saw a mix of aggressive batting and crucial breakthroughs for India. Axar Patel’s exceptional catch to dismiss Marsh and Kuldeep’s dismissal of Maxwell were pivotal. Australia lost momentum with these wickets, and the pressure began to mount.
Death overs: India close out the game with aplomb
Phase score: 40/3 [RR: 8.00, 4s/6s: 1/2]
The required run rate soared as Australia’s innings progressed, and wickets fell at regular intervals. Head’s dismissal and Bumrah’s effective death bowling ensured that Australia could not recover. Axar Patel’s brilliant 16th over further tightened the screws, leading to India’s comfortable victory.
Brief scores: India 205/5 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 92, Suryakumar Yadav 31; Mitchell Starc 2-45) beat Australia 181/7 in 20 overs (Travis Head 76, Mitchell Marsh 37; Kuldeep Yadav 2-24) by 24 runs.
What’s next?
With this victory, India has secured a spot in the semifinals and will face England in Guyana, a rematch of the 2022 semifinal. Australia, meanwhile, will need Bangladesh to beat Afghanistan to progress. An Afghanistan win or a washout will see Afghanistan through to the semifinal.
