Every Indian would be down and out with a heavy heart on Thursday. That is because India lost the all-important semi-final match of the 2015 World Cup against Australia 95 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all time thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit and who knows it better than this Australia team, who have four World Cup wins to their credit.
After having won the toss, Australia opted to bat on a dry SCG pitch in their seventh semi-final appearance; they had won the previous six, and made 328 for seven. This was the highest World Cup total in a World Cup semi-final. Then, the home team made a mockery of the Indian top-order and, eventually, dismissed them for 233. In short, Australia was too strong for India. It was only Indian captain MS Dhoni (65 off 65 balls) who showed some hope. He was the only India batsman who tried his best to revive the Indian innings.
Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war. But for India, this was war after winning the previous eight battles of this World Cup. The defending champions had a spotless run in the tournament till this defeat knocked them out of the tournament. Australia will now play New Zealand in the final on Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This is not the first time that Australia had wrecked India’s hope in the World Cup. In the 2003 World Cup final, India had lost to the very same opposition in South Africa.
India drew first blood, though, when Umesh Yadav dismissed David Warner for 12 in the fourth over. But from there on, it was only Steven Smith who ruled the roost. He toyed with the in-form Indian bowling, produced an incredible century for his team and was adjudged the player of the match. He also shared a superb a 182-run partnership with scratchy Aaron Finch, who also contributed with a fine 81 from deliveries.
Smith made 105 off 93 balls before he holed out to deep square leg off Umesh Yadav in the 35th over. This was the time when the Indians bowled displayed a great fight-back into the match. Umesh got four wickets while R Ashwin produced the most valuable spell for his team. Towards the end of the Australian innings, both Shane Watson and James Faulkner played some wonderful shots to take Australia beyond the 300-run mark while Mitchell Johnson smashed 27 off nine balls to power Australia to such a commanding score.
In reply, the Indian openers – Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan – were off to a steady start. Dhawan, in particular, got a life when he was batting on eight and that helped India to make 55 without loss in the first 10 overs. But the Delhi cricketer threw his wicket in the 13th over while playing an ambitious shot off Josh Hazlewood.
By this time, the foundation was laid for Virat Kohli to make the most of the situation. But Kohli made a mess of the opportunity. He played a shot which a batsman of his form and experience can’t afford to play at this level. A well-directed bouncer from Johnson cut short Kohli’s stay in the middle. It was there and then India started losing the plot. If Kohli’s dismissal wasn’t enough, Rohit also became a victim of Johnson’s aggressive bowling. These two quick wickets broke the back-bone of India.
Later, Suresh Raina couldn’t get set to show his true colors. At 108 for four, the stage was left for Ajinkya Rahane and Dhoni to bail India out. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much scope for both Dhoni and Rahane to repair the Indian innings. Still, the duo did what they could do. It was the fifth wicket partnership of 70 runs that took the India to a respectable total.
For Australia, Mitchell Start worked up good pace and took the vital wicket of Rahane. Initially, the Indian middle-order was given not out by the field umpire, but he was given out after Australia reviewed it. Even Hazlewood was accurate with his line and length. Faulkner too was on a verge of getting a hat-trick just before the match ended.
