ICC World Twenty20: Virat Kohli special takes India to semis

Virat smashes unbeaten 82 off 51 balls as hosts beat Australia by six wickets

India dealt a killer blow, crashing Australia’s semi-finals dream in the World T20 Super 10 Group 2 knockout encounter with a superlative six-wicket win here on Sunday night.

A match replete with several twists and turns, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men came out trumps in pressure situation marching into the last four and will now face the West Indies in Mumbai on March 31.

After a disciplined effort from their bowlers that saw them restrict Australia to 160/6, India looked in deep trouble at 49/3 before Virat Kohli (82 not out, 51 balls, 9x4, 2x6) yet again rose to the occasion and together with Dhoni — the duo were involved in an unbeaten 67-run (31 balls) stand for the fifth wicket — guided India to a morale-boosting win.

The fighter that he is, Kohli continued to take up sole responsibility and never looked back even as the openers fell early. It required a quick assessment of the situation with the Mohali track getting difficult to bat on with each passing minute, but Kohli showed exemplary batting skills yet again playing a chanceless innings.

Needing 39 in last three overs, Kohli single-handedly eased off the pressure slamming James Faulkner for a six and two boundaries to set up a very special evening for the home fans.

Similar treatment was handed out to Nathan Coulter-Nile as Kohli picked up four boundaries in the penultimate over to kill the chase in 19.1 overs. Australia, who were seemingly in control of the game for most parts, did not know what hit them. Suddenly, they had been batted out of the game in what was a very special knock.

Needing four off the last six balls, Dhoni (18 not out, 10 balls) fittingly hit the winning runs to evoke celebrations all around.

Yuvraj Singh (21, 18 balls) played a crucial hand despite fighting ankle pain and limping while most parts of innings. His and Kohli’s 45 run (38 balls) stand for the fourth wicket gave India some stability before Dhoni provided the final finishes.

The match also brought an end to all-rounder Shane Watson’s career but he will remember it for his special performance. He bowled (2/23) with a lot of heart and also effected a brilliant catch that got rid of Yuvraj.

Earlier, the home bowlers came up with a disciplined effort to halt Australia’s fiery opening charge to restrict them to 160/6.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, Australia showed great intent and killer instinct to set the stage on fire in front of a packed house and seemed well on course to a massive total before Ravindra Jadeja and part-time bowler Yuvraj applied the brakes.The semis spot was on the line and it required some quick thinking from Dhoni, who looked pensive as Australia raced to 50 in mere 3.4 overs, but kept searching for the right formula.

Openers Usman Khawaja (26) and Aaron Finch (43) were in a murderous mood taking R. Ashwin (1/31 off two overs) and young Jasprit Bumrah (1/32) to the cleaners. Khawaja was extremely punishing on Bumrah picked up four boundaries in the pacer’s very first over while Finch slammed two huge sixes off Ashwin to take Australia to 53/0 in four overs.

Veteran Ashish Nehra (1/20) was going strong on the other end mixing the pace well and foxing the batsmen with guile, but with little support from the other end India kept leaking runs.

Nehra brought about the breakthrough removing Khawaja off a fullish delivery before Jadeja and Yuvraj made good use of the conditions to slow down Australia’s brisk scoring rate.

With David Warner (6) and Steve Smith (2) falling in quick succession, and Hardik Pandya removing dangerman Finch with a short delivery, India slowly found their way back.

Australia reached 114/4 in 15 overs as Glenn Maxwell scored 31 off 28 balls. Bumrah bowled with heart in death overs making up for the early damage as Australia reached 160/6 in 20 overs.

Dhoni was agile behind the wickets, effecting two catches and a stumping, and achieved a personal milestone of 60 dismissals in T20 internationals —equaling the record of Pakistan’s Kamran Akmal.

Ashwin became the first Indian to clinch 50 wickets in this format and 12th bowler overall to do so.

Scoreboard Australia: U. Khawaja c Dhoni b Nehra 26, A. Finch c Dhawan b Pandya 43, D. Warner st Dhoni b Ashwin 6, S. Smith c Dhoni b Yuvraj 2, G. Maxwell b Bumrah 31, S. Watson (not out) 18, J. Faulkner c Kohli b Pandya 10, P. Nevill (not out) 10. Extras: (lb2, w11, nb1) 14. Total: (for 6 wkts, in 20 overs) 160. FoW: 1-54, 2-72, 3-74, 4-100, 5-130, 6-145. Bowling: Nehra 4-0-20-1, Bumrah 4-0-32-1, Ashwin 2-0-31-1, Jadeja 3-0-20-0, Yuvraj 3-0-19-1, Pandya 4-0-36-2

India: R. Sharma b Watson 12, S. Dhawan c Khawaja b Coulter-Nile 13, V. Kohli (not out) 82, S. Raina c Nevill b Watson 10, Y. Singh c Watson b Faulkner 21, M. Dhoni (not out) 18. Extras: (lb 3, w 2) 5. Total: (for 4 wkts, in 19.1 overs) 161. FoW: 1-23, 2-37, 3-49, 4-94 Bowliing: Hazlewood 4-0-38-0 (1w), Coulter-Nile 3-0-17-1 (1w), Watson 4-0-24- 2, Faulkner 3.1-0-35-1, Maxwell 2-0-18-0, Zampa 2-0-11-0