ICC World Cup 2015: India vs Australia - Dhoni and Co. need 329 for a spot in the final
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Australia have scored 328/7 in their 50 overs against India at the SCG in the second semi-final of the World Cup. Steven Smith, coming in at No.3, top scored with 105 off just 93 balls. Umesh Yadav, although expensive, was the pick of the Indian bowlers; his figures read 9-0-72-4.
Despite losing opener David Warner to Yadav in the 4th over of the innings, Australia got off to a strong start – thanks to a massive 182-run partnership for the second wicket between Aaron Finch and Smith. Glenn Maxwell was promoted in the batting order after the fall of Smith, but his dismissal – caught at deep backward square off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin – sparked an unbelievable batting collapse. From 232-2 in 37.2 overs, they were reduced to 284-6 in 46.3 overs.
Mitchell Johnson, in at No. 9, however, was in no mood to give up. The fast bowler played a gem of a knock at the death, scoring 27* off just 13 balls to help his team set a target of 329 for the Men in Blue. He took a special liking to Shami and Mohit Sharma, who conceded 29 runs off the last two overs of the innings.
Given the start Australia had, they could have easily scored 375+ runs. Indian captain MS Dhoni would be happy that his bowlers managed to claw the opposition batsmen back. Can his team chase it down? Here is what the numbers indicate:
Only 1 team has chased 300 successfully in any ODI at the SCG: 334-8 Aus v Eng 2011. No team has chased 300 in a WC knockout game. #CWC15
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) March 26, 2015
Australia have featured in 6 WC semis and have never lost even one. India have featured in 5 WC semis - Won - 3 Lost - 2 #CWC15 #INDvAUS
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 26, 2015
Only 1 team has chased 300 successfully in any ODI at the SCG: 334-8 Aus v Eng 2011. No team has chased 300 in a WC knockout game. #CWC15
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) March 26, 2015
Only AUS have chased a score of 300 plus at the @scg. IND's highest score chasing on this ground is 299 - in a losing cause #CWC15 #INDvAUS
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 26, 2015
First time in this WC that India have failed to take 10 wickets. #cwc15
— Mazher Arshad (@cricket_U) March 26, 2015
Australia finish with 328/7 from their allotted 50 overs. No team has ever chased 300 or more in a World Cup semi-final. #CWC15 #INDvAUS
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 26, 2015
Simple enough equation for #IND. They'll have to pull off the greatest run chase in history to make the final. #CWC15 #AUSvIND
— Dileep Premachandran (@SpiceBoxofEarth) March 26, 2015