ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Australia vs India - Quick Flicks
Johnson vs Kohli: The Test series rivalry continues
After a volatile rivalry and a flurry of aggressive bouncers in the recently concluded Test series between Australia and India, all eyes were on Virat Kohli and Mitchell Johnson, as the two faced off in the semi final.
The left arm bowler, coming out to bat with the score reading 298/7, helped himself to a quickfire innings of 27 in 9 balls. Johnson, dropped by Kohli on 15, was instrumental in taking the Australian target closer to the 330-run mark, giving them the much needed momentum for the second innings.
A barrage of short balls by Johnson greeted Kohli when he came out to bat in the Indian innings. He crawled to a 13 ball 1, before top edging a short ball from the Aussie to Haddin. This was the first time that Kohli was dismissed by Johnson in the 50 over format.
Did Watson take the catch?
4 balls into the Indian innings, opener Rohit Sharma edged a fuller Mitchell Starc delivery to Shane Watson at first slip, who dived to his right, appealling half-heartedly for a catch, with replays suggesting that a hint of grass was involved – the benefit of doubt going in favour of the batsman.
Shane Warne on commentary though thought otherwise, suggesting the ball might have bounced in Watto’s hands. Rohit, on 0 at that time, added 34 more runs to his account before falling to Johnson.
Smith torments India again
Steve Smith, coming into the WC on the back of a brilliant Test series against India, where he had amassed 769 runs in 4 games, continued his love affair with the Indian bowlers, scoring 105 runs in 121 balls, with 11 fours and 2 sixes.
Coming in to bat after the early dismissal of David Warner, the youngster toyed with the bowling attack and added 182 runs for the 2nd wicket with Aaron Finch. Smith now has 5 centuries in as many matches against the Indians this summer!
The statsistics
Australia, who made 328 runs, thereby scored the highest runs in a WC semi-final in the history of the event.
The Indian team did not only have to face the likes of Mitchell Starc and Johnson, but also had to defy the odds and statistics, which they eventually failed to do. Before the match, no team had ever successfully chased down a target in excess of 300 in a WC knockout game.
Australia, who have featured in 7 semi finals have not lost even a single one, while India now have 3 losses in 6 appearances. The loss also ended India’s unbeaten streak of 11 WC wins under MS Dhoni.
Rahane gets the faintest of faint edges
After India had collapsed to 108-4 chasing Australia’s 328, captain Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane tried to steady the innings, putting up a 70 run partnership for the 5th wicket.
Rahane, batting on 44, tried going for a steer down to third man, missing the delivery, with the ball going past the outside edge to Haddin.
Clarke, who had failed to hear a nick, referred the original not out decision to the 3rd umpire at the insistence of the close-in fielders, who detected the faintest of faint nicks. With Rahane’s dismissal, the match was all but over for India.
Umesh draws a Starc delivery onto his chin
Umesh Yadav, the last Indian batsman out on the crease, faced a rising short delivery from Starc, which deflected off his gloves onto his chin. The Indian bowler, who looked in discomfort, was immediately surrounded by the Australian fielders, with Clarke even tendering him an uncharacteristic apology.
It should be mentioned that it was at this very ground that Australian cricketer Phil Hughes lost his life after a Sean Abbot bouncer struck the back of his head.
4 months without a victory against the Aussies
India, who toured Australia for a 4 match Test series and a tri-nation ODI series, also featuring England, before the WC, ended their tour Down Under without inflicting a single defeat upon the hosts.
The team had gone down 2-0 in the 4 Test matches and failed to win a single game in the ODI series that followed. A defeat in the ICC Warm Up game against Australia along with today’s loss capped off a tough, gruelling Australian summer for the Indians.
A summer where they conquered all oppositions barring the hosts.