In a thrilling first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy, India secured a hard-fought 4-wicket victory against Australia, booking their place in the tournament final. Chasing a target of 265 runs set by Australia in a rain-reduced 24-over match, India’s batting lineup delivered a composed performance, led by a stellar 84-run knock from Virat Kohli.
India’s chase began with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, but the partnership was short-lived. Gill departed early after scoring just 8 runs, while captain Rohit Sharma contributed 28 before being dismissed. The middle order then stepped up, with Kohli and Shreyas Iyer stabilizing the innings. Iyer played a crucial role with 45 runs before being dismissed, while Axar Patel added 27 to keep the scoreboard ticking. Kohli’s masterful 84-run innings was the backbone of India’s chase, though he fell just short of seeing the team through. Hardik Pandya provided valuable support with 28 runs before being caught, but India crossed the finish line with 4 wickets in hand.
Earlier in the match, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in Dubai. However, their innings was marked by inconsistent performances, as they were bowled out for 264 runs in the final over. The Australian innings got off to a rocky start, with opener Cooper Connolly dismissed for a duck, leaving the team at 4/1. Travis Head’s aggressive 39-run cameo provided some momentum, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Captain Steven Smith anchored the innings with a solid 73, while Alex Carey contributed a valuable 61. However, the middle and lower order struggled to build partnerships, with Glenn Maxwell (7), Marnus Labuschagne (29), and Josh Inglis (11) failing to capitalize on their starts. Australia’s tailenders, including Adam Zampa (7) and Nathan Ellis (10), added some late runs, but the team was ultimately restricted to 264.
Also read: Champions Trophy: Australia opt to bat first against India in first semi-final
The second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy will see New Zealand take on South Africa at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium tomorrow. The winner will face India in the highly anticipated final, scheduled for Sunday, March 9. India’s victory over Australia sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament as they aim to clinch the Champions Trophy title.
