SK Flashback: Steve Smith bats India out of the 2015 World Cup

Steve Smith was the chief architect of Australia’s win over India in the 2015 World Cup

Whenever India and Australia meet on a cricket field, fireworks can be expected. Over the past two decades, the two teams have played some memorable matches and nothing less was expected when they came head-to-head on the 26th of March, 2015 in the World Cup semi-finals at Sydney.

India were the defending champions and hadn’t lost a match in the tournament so far. Australia’s performance had been equally impressive. Emotions were expectedly high, the rhetoric even higher. The Kangaroos weren’t about to capitulate at home. They had waited four years for revenge for their 2011 quarter-final loss at Ahmedabad in the previous edition of the tournament.

Also read: SK Flashback: India defeat Australia 4-0 for the first time in a Test series

Unfortunately for the Indian fans, revenge is what they got. Here is a look at the key moments that decided the match.

#1 Umesh Yadav leaks four boundaries in the tenth over

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 26: Umesh Yadav of India celebrates after taking the wicket of Aaron Finch of Australia during the 2015 Cricket World Cup Semi Final match between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on March 26, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) — Umesh Yadav got David Warner early but then gave the advantage away by leaking runs

Australia won the toss and Michael Clarke immediately chose to bat first. It wasn’t an ideal start for the home team, though. They lost David Warner in the fourth over to an Umesh Yadav delivery and the task of stabilizing the innings fell on the shoulders of Aaron Finch and Steve Smith.

By the ninth over, their run-rate wasn’t one that would have gotten the Indians worried. With the opposition at a score of 40/1, MS Dhoni must have felt reasonably comfortable with the situation. Yadav was handed the ball for his fifth over and the bowler, perhaps due to a lapse in concentration, suddenly went wayward.

Trying to bounce Smith out, he bowled one misdirected bouncer after another and the Aussie gleefully slashed him to cover, dragged him to mid wicket and pulled him to square leg. The shackles that had tamed the Australian batsmen so far fell aside and they couldn’t be chained again.