India chasing awkward target as Aussie duo crack fifties in semi-final: LIVE
India has been set a 265-run target for victory in the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia after Steve Smith and Alex Carey cracked gritty fifties in Dubai on Tuesday.
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The reigning world champions were bowled out for 264 in 49.3 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat first on a slow deck, with captain Smith (73 from 96 balls) and Carey (61 from 57 balls) anchoring the innings. Indian seamer Mohammed Shami claimed 3-48 in a probing spell, while spinners Ravindra Jadeja (2-40) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2-49) did the bulk of the damage during the middle overs.
Despite having previously never opened the batting at List A level, young all-rounder Cooper Connolly was added to Australia’s starting XI as an injury replacement for Matt Short, but the decision backfired when he lazily wafting at a wide delivery from Shami and edged through to gloveman KL Rahul for a ninth-ball duck.
Opening partner Travis Head, who has thwarted India in ICC events on multiple occasions, was handed a couple of early reprieves during the Powerplay, with Shami spilling a return catch and Jadeja missing a run-out chance at the non-striker’s end. But after smacking three consecutive boundaries against Shami, the left-hander’s luck ran out in the ninth over when he miscued a slog against Chakaravarthy towards long-off, caught for 39.
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Steve Smith’s innings bailed out | 00:34
The scoring tempo settled as India’s spinners seized control after the Powerplay, with Smith and Marnus Labuschagne forming a 56-run partnership for the third wicket. The Australian skipper rode his luck early, with the ball rolling into his stumps without dislodging the bails and Shami dropping another tough chance off his own bowling.
Jadeja broke the stand in the 23rd over by trapping Labuschagne on the pads for 29 before wicketkeeper Josh Inglis scooped a cover drive towards cover for 11 to become the tweaker’s second victim.
With Australia teetering at 4-144, Carey launched into a timely counterpunch, producing a flurry of lofted drives over mid-wicket as he combined with Smith for a 54-run stand. However, the captain’s patient knock came to an abrupt end in the 37th over when he missed a low full toss from Shami, with Glenn Maxwell departing the following over for 7, bowled by spinner Axar Patel.
A frustrated Carey struggled to get on strike while batting with the Australian tail during the death overs, run out by Shreyas Iyer in the 48th over after attempting a suicidal double. Shami and seamer Hardik Pandya cleaned up the tail with three deliveries to spare.
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