India’s dream run in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 came to an end as Australia beat the Men in Blue in the second semi final comprehensively. India lost the match by 95 runs as India failed to chase down the big target set by the Aussies.
Australia had almost the perfect day at the Sydney Cricket Ground as they started the day by winning the important toss. Michael Clarke never hesitated to take the advantage of batting first on the big day. The Australian batsmen also did not disappoint as they put up a total of 328/7 in 50 overs. Steve Smith, yet again, played an excellent innings of 105 runs to get the Australians going after David Warner had failed to provide the desired start. Aaron Finch (79) also played a useful hand and played second fiddle to Steve Smith in their 187 run partnership for the second wicket. After that there were no considerable contributions but the cameos played by the Australian middle and lower order took the total past the 300-run mark. Mitchell Johnson’s innings of 27 runs off just 9 balls enabled Australia to make it 328 instead of 310 or around that mark. Indian bowlers did bowl well in patches but it was not the same bowling attack that had rattled the opponents in the previous matches. Mohammad Shami failed to pick up a single wicket while Umesh Yadav picked up m4, but gave away 72 in 9 overs. Ashwin bowled well as he returned with figures of 10-0-42-1; the one wicket was of Glen Maxwell at a critical juncture.
Chasing 329 in a semifinal was always going to be a tough task. And the Indian batting succumbed to that pressure rather meekly. Shikhar Dhawan (45) and Rohit Sharma (34) provided a very solid start but after the fall of Shikhar no one could take the Indian innings forward. Mahendra Singh Dhoni fought a lone battle as he top scored with 65 runs before he got run out. He simply ran out of partners in the end as one time it seemed that it would be a close finish. Australia bowled well on since taking the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan and kept the Indians under pressure by not giving away loose balls. In the end India got all out for 233, 96 runs short of the target set by the hosts.
It was a heart breaking defeat for the Indians. Every defeat is heartbreaking but this one is very sickening. India have played well in the 7 matches that they have played and they have by far been the best team in this world cup. In fact India’s performance has been more impressive than the Kiwis who also have managed to stay unbeaten till now. This is because the Black Caps have played all their matches on their home soil but India have travelled to New Zealand for a couple of matches as well and they have adopted accordingly. But when it mattered most India lost it to their old foes Australia. This defeat eventually brings an end to five-month long tour of Australia at the end of which India has got a lot of positive to take despite failing to beat Australia even once over such a long period of time.
Tags: Australia ICC world cup cricket 2015 india Virat Kohli world cup
