India maintained their clean record with a decisive 24-run win against their long-time rivals Australia. This victory propels India into the semi-finals, where they will face England. Australia’s hopes of securing a semi-final spot now rest with Bangladesh, who must achieve an emphatic victory to progress.
India entered the game as marginal favorites, given their clinical performances leading up to this match. Despite Australia’s reputation for excelling in high-stakes games, India set a commanding tone. Rohit Sharma’s explosive batting, especially his 29-run over off Starc, laid a solid foundation. Contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (SKY), Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya further propelled India to a total beyond 200.
Australia’s chase began poorly with the loss of David Warner in the first over. Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh then attempted to stabilize the innings. Marsh, despite looking scratchy and benefiting from two dropped catches, struggled to find form. Head, continuing his consistent performance against India in ICC events, struck several powerful blows, placing India under pressure. However, Marsh’s dismissal to a spectacular catch by Axar Patel shifted the momentum back to India. Glenn Maxwell provided a brief scare, but his wicket marked the beginning of the end for Australia, who collapsed swiftly thereafter.
India’s bowling attack, despite some challenges, managed to dismantle the Australian batting lineup effectively. This victory underscores India’s dominance and sets up an exciting semi-final clash with England. Meanwhile, Australia’s fate now hinges on Bangladesh’s performance in their upcoming match.
