Synopsis
After a four-wicket defeat in the Champions Trophy semi-final, Australia captain Steve Smith believes a score over 280 could have changed the game's outcome. Despite a strong effort, the team fell short against India, who advances to the final.Key Takeaways
- Steve Smith noted a score of 280+ could have shifted the match's outcome.
- Australia's batting fell short, with key players contributing significantly.
- India's chase was led by Virat Kohli, who scored 84 runs.
- The Australian bowling lineup was depleted due to injuries.
- India will play the final against the winner of South Africa vs. New Zealand.
Dubai, March 4 (NationPress) Following a four-wicket defeat to India in the Champions Trophy semi-final, Australia captain Steve Smith expressed that had they posted a target exceeding 280 runs, the result might have been different.
Thanks to Virat Kohli's 84, along with contributions from KL Rahul (42 not out) and Hardik Pandya (28 off 24 balls), India successfully chased down Australia's score of 265, advancing to the final of the eight-team tournament.
Choosing to bat first, Smith scored 73 runs while Marnus Labuschagne added 61, but the Indian bowlers managed to dismiss Australia for 264 all out in 49.3 overs. Mohammed Shami took three wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakaravarthy each claimed two wickets.
“I believed the bowlers performed exceptionally well; they put in a lot of effort, and the spinners kept things tight, taking the game deep. It was a challenging wicket for batting, making it hard to rotate the strike. Everyone did remarkably well tonight. The playing conditions remained fairly consistent, with a bit of hold for the spinners, some spin and skid. For the fast bowlers, it was a bit two-paced. We might have been able to secure a few more runs. We lost a few crucial wickets at key moments,” Smith reflected during the post-match presentation.
“If we had reached 280+, the scenario could have been quite different. It felt like we lost one wicket too many at critical junctures of the match. The way our team united was commendable. The bowling unit excelled, and some batters stepped up. We performed exceptionally against England. We have some outstanding cricketers who will continue to improve,” he added.
Australia departs with pride, having entered the tournament with a significantly weakened bowling lineup due to injuries to their fast bowling trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc. Despite the lack of experience in the bowling department, they managed to take the Indian team to the edge, with stand-in captain Smith trying new strategies in hopes of regaining control, although Kohli's dismissal may have come a bit too late.
India will now face the winner of the second semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand in the final scheduled for March 9 in Dubai.
