Zeecric Bureau
Durban, Sept 22: BCCI has announced a reward of USD 1 million to the Indian team for this remarkable feat. India tormented Australia to score a thrilling win by just 15 runs in the semi-finals of Twenty20 World Cup. Indian bowlers restricted the Australians to 173 runs in 20 overs. Yuvraj Singh again played a crucial role as he hammered 70 off just 30 balls. S Sreesanth also bowled excellently as he gave just 12 runs in his 4 overs and took 2 wickets. India will now play arch rivals Pakistan in the finals of Twenty20 World Cup on Monday.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, India made a hefty total of 188 runs from 20 overs earlier on against Australia. Indian attack was yet again led by the brazen batting of Yuvraj Singh. Indian top order clicked altogether with Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa and Mahendra Dhoni making decent scores.
However, India started on a shaky note against Australia as Sehwag was dismissed early in the innings. Sehwag was caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist on Mitchell Johnson’s delivery. Before even playing a ball, Virender Sehwag had pulled a muscle in his left thigh and runner was called in for him.
Gautam Gambhir became the second victim of the day as he was caught by Brad Hodge in the deep. Gambhir who tried to hit a short ball from Mitchell Johnson for a six was caught by a terrific effort from Hodge. India’s other opener Gambhir made 24 runs from 25 balls that included four 4’s.
After the two openers were gone, Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa started hitting Australian bowlers all over the ground.
Robin Uthappa then fell prey to a direct hit from Andrew Symonds. Uthappa was way short of his crease as India lost their third wicket. Uthappa made 34 runs from 28 balls.
Meanwhile, Yuvraj started in his usual fashion as he made a quickfire 50 in just 20 balls. His fifty included four sixes and three 4’s. Yuvraj also hammered the longest six of the tournament with 119 metres.
Yuvraj Singh who continued from where he had left against England, departed after making an exceptional 70 runs from just 30 balls. Yuvraj departed after Michael Clarke bowled a short delivery which was caught by Mike Hussey in the deep. Yuvraj’s innings included five 4’s and five sixes.
On the second last ball of the innings Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was run out when he was playing on 36 runs from just 18 balls.
India ended their innings on a high note and a heavy total that gave their bowlers confidence to face the mighty Australians.
Australia got the first shock of the day as Adam Gilchrist was clean bowled by S Sreesanth. Gilchrist who trampled RP Singh’s previous over with a four and a six was dismissed right on the first ball of Sreesanth’s over. He made 22 runs from 13 balls.
Brad Hodge who was looking to hammer the Indian bowling for a long time was caught by Joginder Sharma. Pathan took his first wicket as Hodge departed after making 11 runs from 10 balls. Troubles just mounted for Australia as their second wicket fell asking run rate kept climbing.
Sreesanth came to the rescue of Team India as Matthew Hayden was clean bowled by him. Indian bowling was thrown out of gear as Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist steadied the Australian innings with massive sixes all over the ground.
Irfan Pathan provided the vital breakthrough to India at a crucial time as Andrew Symonds was bowled. Symonds was playing at 43 runs off just 23 balls. Soon after Michael Clarke was dismissed as he too was clean bowled by Harbhajan Singh.
Australia just succumbed to the pressure cooker situation and was ultimately defeated by 15 runs. Sreesanth bowled ecstatically as he returned the figures of 2 wickets and 12 runs from 4 overs.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh passed the fitness test before the match and were included in the squad while Dinesh Karthik was left out. Shane Watson was kept out of the Australian side as he was suffering from hamstring injury.
Teams
Australia: Adam Gilchrist(capt), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni(capt), Virendar Sehwag, Gautham Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Sreesanth, RP Singh.
