India beat Australia by four wickets: Champions Trophy cricket semi-final – live
Key events
Kohli will be irritated he didn’t see it through, but his was still the crucial contribution. There’s no one better at commandeering a chase, there’s never been anyone better, and after a lean time, he looks back in terrific touch.
We knew it at change of innings: Australia should’ve made more, and not doing so was the difference in this match. Steven Smith husbanded his limited resources well, but India, and Virat Kohli in particular, knew too much. It’ll take something significant to stop them.
India beat Australia by four wickets to reach the Champions Trophy final
Maxwell ambles in, Rahul creams him for six back over his heed, and that completes a terrifyingly competent win for Rohit’s men.
48th over: India 261-6 (Rahul 36, Jadeja 2) Target 26 Jadeja shoves to mid-on, they run one then another on overthrow, and India need four runs from 12 balls.
WICKET! Pandya c Maxwell b Ellis 28 (India 259-6)
In typical style, Hardik looks to finish things with a six, but instead picks out Maxwell at long-on, who this time hangs on.
48th over: India 259-5 (Rahul 36, Hardik 28) Target 265 Ellis’ last over was excellent, but a single and a wide – called on height – from three deliveries, set up the over. And again, Hardik goes downtown, slamming over the top, right through the ball, and it plugs just before the rope then rolls into it.
47th over: India 253-5 (Rahul 35, Hardik 24) Target 265 Zampa returns to finish off and Rahul takes his first delivery to long-off for one. So Hardik, back on strike, throws hands, cutting over cover but to the man on the fence; he wants a second run but, sent back, manages to hurt himself in the process, but I’m sure he’ll be fine. A single follows, Rahul cutting to point, then Hardik almost teleports into another dimension, so violently does he swing and miss. So Zampa looks to tantalise him, tossing one up, problem being this time, the swing is true and Pandya muscles six over the long-off, intimating pain thereafter. So Zampa looks to tantalise him, tossing one up but a little wide, problem being, this time, the swing is truer, nay truest, and a monstrous second six in two balls probably finishes the game. India need 12 runs from 18 balls.
46th over: India 238-5 (Rahul 33, Hardik 11) Target 265 Ellis continues and Rahul takes a single to cover-point, his 3000th run in ODIs; only Virat and Shikhar Dhawan got there quicker. Two dots follow, though, Pandya again failing to rotate the strike as there’s a little bit of reverse-tail, and when Ellis fires one into the block-hole, the pressure on India increases just a bit. One off the over and India need 27 runs from 24 balls.
45th over: India 237-5 (Rahul 32, Hardik 11) Target 265 Sangha returns to bowl the biggest balls of his life so far; is the plan for him to tempt Hardik? Well, four dots make for a good start, a wide line upping pressure on the batters … ahahahaha! A gigantic six, devastated back over the bowler’s head, backed up by two to cover, turns a parsimonious over into one that might tip the match irrevocably. India need 28 runs from 30 balls.
44th over: India 229-5 (Rahul 32, Hardik 3) Target 265 Ellis returns and after a his first two balls yield a single, Rahul looks to flick around the corner and the bowler wants a catch behind. The umpire says no and so, in the end, does Smith who, much as he needs something, knows the sound the bowler heard was bat passing pad. Three off the over and India need 36 runs from 36 balls.
KL was saying “Main maar raha tha,” advises Arul Kanhere, “which means I was hitting them.”
Ah, I love stuff like this, thanks a lot. It’s so strange that Kohli went when he did, having got his team close to victory playing in a particular way. It just goes to show how difficult it is to stay focused.
43rd over: India 226-5 (Rahul 31, Hardik 1) Target 265 Hardik gets off the mark with a drill to cover, and Australia have renewed intensity about them. India need 39 runs from 42 balls.
WICKET! Kohli c Dwarshuis b Zampa 84 (India 225-5)
Oh V-Man, what have you done?! With Rahul having taken care of the over’s scoring, Kohli suddenly loses patience, swiping down the throat of long-on! Australia still have a sniff!
43rd over: India 225-4 (Kohli 84, Rahul 31) Target 265 Zampa replaces Sangha, Smith acknowledging that it’s now or never, and after Kohli takes one,, with long on and long off both stuck on, Rahul trots down anyway, premeditating a delightful assault miles over the fence.
42nd over: India 217-4 (Kohli 83, Rahul 24) Target 265 Kohli swings and slices, but the ball drops shy of deep third and they run one. Rahul then cuts two and looks to be playing more aggressively now, leaving the senior partner to see it home if he goes. And there it is, two singles then a swipe over mid-on for four making it nine off the over; this coiuld finish quickly now. India need 48 runs from 48 balls.
41st over: India 208-4 (Kohli 81, Rahul 17) Target 265 How would Bazball consider India’s approach here? Even before it – yes, there was a before it – England lost looking to manage a relatively low chase when Sri Lanka beat them at the 2019 World Cup. I guess they only have Joe Root able to navigate a classical Test-type innings, whereas India have various. Anyhow, Sangha returns and after two singes, Rahul splatters him back over his head for four, a two follows, and that’s eight off the over, the rate back down below six. India need 57 runs from 54 balls.
40th over: India 200-4 (Kohli 80, Rahul 10) Target 265 Dwarshuis also returns and that’s Smith making his move – rightly so because this isn’t yet over, but if Australia don’t do something soon, it soon will be. And it’s a decent over too, a second single raising Australia’s 200 before three dots take the rate up to 6.50. That’s drinks, and India need 65 runs from 60 balls.
39th over: India 198-4 (Kohli 79, Rahul 9) Target 265 Knowing he’s running out of road, Smith tosses Zampa the ball once more, the rate sneaking to six for the first time. But DJ Virat is on the ones and twos, starting the over with the former and immediately adding the latter; two further singles follow, and India need 67 runs from 66 balls.
38th over: India 192-4 (Kohli 75, Rahul 7) Target 265 Connolly continues but he’s struggling to build pressure, India taking singles from his first four balls, and this is such deft, patient, self-denial from Virat. A further single follows, and he has put this chase over his absolute knee (metaphorically speaking).
37th over: India 187-4 (Kohli 73, Rahul 3) Target 265 Ellis properly charges in, but the pitch is offering him little and the batters, cognisant of that, are doing likewise. For those of us keen for an arse-nipper, it’s a shame Australia dropped Kohli when they did, as it is they didn’t add another 30; four singles off the over.
36th over: India 183-4 (Kohli 71, Rahul 2) Target 265 Lefty gone, Smith immediately goes back to Connolly’s SLA. The problem both have is the new man at the crease is KL Rahul, a veteran good enough to open in Tests; he might panic, but also, he might not, and five singles keep India ticking over. India require 82 runs from 84 balls.
WICKET! Axar b Ellis 27 (India 178-4)
Axar hasn’t held back and he indulges another massive mow, misses when the ball keeps low, and loses off-stump.
35th over: India 178-3 (Kohli 68, Axar 27) Target 265 Smith returns to Ellis; the batters milk him for three singles from five balls.
34th over: India 175-3 (Kohli 66, Axar 26) Target 265 “It’s a totally different game if Virat Kohli gets out here,” prays Hayden, as Maxwell continues. And just as his over looks decent, four singles ceded from five balls, Axar forces over extra, the ball rolling between two converging fielders and into the rope. This isn’t over, but it’s 10 to.
33rd over: India 167-3 (Kohli 64, Axar 20) Target 265 Smith introduces Head, hoping he can either golden arm something, or a batter takes him lightly. Instead, the complete opposite eventuates, six balls and six singles.
32nd over: India 161-3 (Kohli 61, Axar 17) Target 265 As if to make a point, Kohli turns to leg for one.
REVIEW! NOT OUT!
Bat out in front, Kohli somehow imparts the faintest nick, and it saves him.
32nd over: India 160-3 (Kohli 60, Axar 17) Target 265 Kohli nips across his stumps and eases around the corner for one, then Axar cuts for another; we’ve seen few big overs, but even fewer tight or testing ones. Anyhow, Kohli then looks to turn into the on-side, he misses, and when ball hits pad, there’s a lusty shout; the umpire says not out, but Australia have no choice: they must review.
31st over: India 158-3 (Kohli 59, Axar 16) Target 265 Sangha replaces Zampa and, well, we said Axar wasn’t hanging about and after taking two to point, he gets down on one knee and swats a slog-sweep over the fence at deep square for six. A second ago, this was a decent over; now, not so much, with eight from it and another batter nicely ensconced.
30th over: India 150-3 (Kohli 59, Axar 8) Target 265 Axar wants to keep things moving – Nasser wonders if he’s been told to try breaking the back of this chase quickly, a luxury India’s deep batting line-up allows them – and, when Maxwell returns, he drives hard down the ground for one, seeking four. Two more singles follow, and India’s control in almost total.
29th over: India 147-3 (Kohli 58, Axar 6) Target 265 The last thing Australia need is a boundary-four from the first ball of this latest Zampa over, but Kohli picks length so well – at 36, his eyes are still obscene – such that when Zampa drops short, he hauls around the corner to the fence at midwicket. Two singles follow, and Australia could use another breakthrough.
28th over: India 141-3 (Kohli 53, Axar 5) Target 265 India get back to it, three singles, then Axar thrashes over cover for two. Five from the over, the required rare 5.63.
27th over: India 136-3 (Kohli 51, Axar 2) Target 265 Three dots, then Axar pulls to deep square, where Carey does superbly, a diving stop saving two.
WICKET! Shreyas b Zampa 45 (India 134-3)
BUT THEY’VE GOT ONE NOW! Zampa targets the stumps, bowling flat, and Shreyas, cramped, looks to cut anyway; he misses, there’s a rattle behind him, and Australia needed that so, so badly. Can they up the pressure?
26th over: India 134-2 (Kohli 51, Shreyas 45) Target 265 In comms, Nasser notes that there’ve only been 69 dots in the 153 balls we’ve had so far, BUT WHAT’S THIS?! Connolly gets one to stick in the pitch and Kohli, looking to turn into the on side, is early on it, ac leading edge flying towards Maxwell at short cover. But with Connolly looking to go for it too and blocking his eye-line, he dives and can’t hold! In a semi-final, Australia have now dropped three catches, words no one ever supposed to type, and that one reprieves the main man!
25th over: India 131-2 (Kohli 50, Shreyas 43) Target 265 Again, Smith fiddles, reintroducing Zampa, and after a single to Shreyas, Kohli presses forward and drives two to long-off. It feels like Australia’s only hope is Obi Wan Kenobi a batting error, and there’s no sense that either of these are going to make one, Kohli pulling a short one for four – he was on to that so quickly and it takes him to yet another fifty. Nine from the over, and India look impregnable.
24th over: India 122-2 (Kohli 43, Shreyas 41) Target 265 More of the same as Connolly returns: India accumulate with three singles and one two. The partnership is 79 off 97.
23rd over: India 117-2 (Kohli 40, Shreyas 39) Target 265 A single to each batter, then Shreyas again scoops, first for two then for one, and two further singles mean it’s seven from the over with barely a risk taken. Australia’s spinners are doing their best, but without Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc, they lack the ability to keep things tight with Test-match lines, along with the magic-ball deliveries that change everything.
22nd over: India 110-2 (Kohli 38, Shreyas 34) Target 265 Kohli has properly commandeered this chase, he and Shreyas knocking Sangha about for four singles. Faor now, at least, this is easy for India.
21st over: India 106-2 (Kohli 36, Shreyas 32) Target 265 Smith gambles, tossing Maxwell the ball, but India are in sufficient control to milk him; Australia will want them to try and hit him out of the attack. And after Kohli takes one, Shreyas tries a scoop, adding another – that’s a lot of risk for not a lot of reward – before a third single from the over completes the scoring.
20th over: India 103-2 (Kohli 34, Shreyas 31) Target 265 Australia’s innings was characterised by batters getting in without going on, so there’s hope for them yet – but if they don’t force the issue soon, they’ll soon be desperate. And, as I type, following three singles from three balls, Kohli gets down to sweep and bottom-edges four to finest leg, then adds two more through midwicket and a single to third man. Ten off the over and India are turning it up. Can Australia respond?
19th over: India 93-2 (Kohli 26, Shreyas 29) Target 265 Dwarshuis returns and immediately goes around to Shreyas, who takes a quick one to point then, when Labuschagne nails a futile direct hit – Kohli is well in – they take a second run on the overthrow. A single follows, then Kohli extends arms seeking to batter through the off-side and misses, before two singles complete the over. The rate is 5.54 and India are experts at hitting that without taking risks which is to say they’re on control here. At drinks, Australia need something.
18th over: India 88-2 (Kohli 25, Shreyas 25) Target 265 Sangha replaces Ellis, and I daresay the batters will fancy getting after him. Hayden, though, tells us he fancies himself at this level and this is a really good first over, three singles from it. Thing is, given how deep India bat, it’s hard to see them losing unless they’re bowled out, and for that, Australia need wickets; the runs shoiuld come quickly enough to keep the rate in check.
17th over:India 85-2 (Kohli 24, Shreyas 23) Target 265 Another good, tight over from Zampa, three singles from it, but with the partnership 42 off 55, Auastralia could very much use a wicket.
16th over: India 82-2 (Kohli 23, Shreyas 21) Target 265 Several overs ago, when Hayden was talking about misjudging catches, I meant to embed the below, but it’s always good whenever you see it. He told me that he got his feet wrong for this one, which is why he had to reach over his head – it’s lucky he did. Meantime, back in the middle, Smith decides India are milking Connolly, replacing him with Ellis, and three singles follows. Then, offered a final delivery that sits up, Kohlia nails a booming pull for four, and, after 16 overs, India are exactly where Australia were.
15th over: India 75-2 (Kohli 18, Shreyas 19) Target 265 Today is Shane Warne’s third yahrzeit; rest well, old mate, and in celebration of him, below is a little reader from Joy of Six: genius. Anyhow, India again accumulate in singles, then Kohli plays down the wrong line having failed to detect Zampa’s wrongun and there’s a big appeal – smith really likes it – but when the umpire says no, Australia opt not to review probably correctly, as I think the ball was going down.
14th over India 71-2 (Kohli 16, Shreyas 17) Target 265 Smith, bored of India’s batters shoving easy singles down the ground, slots Maxwell in to stop them, so Kohli takes one to deep point instead. This brings Shreyas on to strike and he moves about to Connolly off his line and length, then does really well to wait for one, opening the face at the last moment to ease four through backward point. Two singles follow, and that’s a much better over for India, seven form it.
13th over: India 64-2 (Kohli 14, Shreyas 11) Target 265 The best time to bat on this ground, in this format, is at the start of an innings, and Australia’s spinners have put a bit of a strangle on, another over yielding nothing but singles and only three of them too. At this stage, Australia were 74-2.
12th over India 62-2 (Kohli 12, Shreyas 11) Target 265 A single down the ground to Kohli, then one to Shreyas, then one to Kohli. This is a really good contest.
11th over India 58-2 (Kohli 10, Shreyas 10) Target 265 Yup, we said this passage could be key, and with Smith introducing Zampa, it now feels keyer. Kohli takes his loosener for a single to cover, then Shreyas presses forward, waits, and cuts two to deep point. Those are the only runs off the over.
10th over India 55-2 (Kohli 9, Shreyas 8) Target 265 India are a little rattled, Shreyas flinging hands – or, in the event, a hand – at a slightly wider one and, though it rushes away for four, it was a risk he didn’t really did need to take. But when Connolly sends him a high full-toss, he has plenty of time to hump it to deep square for four, making this a decent over for India.
9th over: India 47-2 (Kohli 9, Shreyas 0) Target 265 Ellis has been getting a bit of movement and he spirits one past Kohli’s outside edge. But despite five dots, there’s not a chance he’s being allowed to complete a maiden and, when he’s fuller and straighter, he’s blasted back over his head, one-handed. You could knock down walls with that lad’s forearms.
8th over: India 43-2 (Kohli 5, Shreyas 0) Target 265 Already, this next passage feels key. If Australia can muster another wicket, India will have a problem – though they bat down to Jadeja at eight.
IT’S DEAD!
Well done Cooper Connolly! It takes a lot to bowl spin at batters like this, never mind after putting one of them down a few overs ago. Imagine the intensity and profundity of his buzz, goodness me.
ROHIT REVIEWS!
I dunno, it looked dead to me, but I guess he’s worth the risk.
WICKET! Sharma lbw b Connolly28 (India 43-2)
NOW THEN! A bit of drift and dip from Connolly, Rohit going down to sweep and missing a ball that’s too full for the planned assault. It hits him on the pad, there’s an appeal, and that is a glorious redemption!
8th over: India 43-1 (Rohit 28, Kohli 5) Target 265 Connolly into the attack, a good move from Smith in that he’ll be stewing over that missed catch so could use the diversion. And he starts well too, a single to midwicket the only run from his first three balls.
7th over: India 42-1 (Rohit 28, Kohli 4) Target 265 Kohli and Sharma knock Dwarshuis around, three singles making this a good over for Australia.
“I have never been against Australia,” confesses Aidan McNally, “unless they are playing England. What India have done here is an abomination. If they weren’t holding the purse strings it would never have happened. C’mon Aussie!!”
I don’t know – I totally understand why keeping everyone safe is the most important thing.
6th over: India 39-1 (Rohit 27, Kohli 2) Target 265 Looking again, that was a really poor shot from Gill, who was tentative or casual in allowing ball to hit bat. But Australia must now find a way to bin Virat Kohli, the king of the run-chase, who, after a wide, gets off the mark via run-down, and life doesn’t really get much better than these two, chasing together in a semi. And as I type, Ellis, having ceded a run a ball in this over, runs in to finish it off … and Rohit twinkles down, annihilating four down the ground as the umpire hits the deck in terror.
