India thump Australia to reach third consecutive Champions Trophy final | Cricket News
India qualified for their third successive ICC Champions Trophy final after thumping Australia four wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Ground in Dubai. Chasing down 265 in 48.1 overs on the back of Virat Kohli’s 98-ball 84, India equalled their highest successful run-chase in Champions Trophy hory, matching the 265-run chase in their previous semi-final appearance against Bangladesh in the 2017 edition of the tournament.
The win also broke India’s 3-3 deadlock with Australia in knockouts of ICC white-ball tournaments which began with a win in the quarter-final of the 1998 edition of the Champions Trophy (then called ICC Knockout Trophy). Since their ODI World Cup quarter-final win in 2011 in Ahmedabad, India lost twice in the 2015 World Cup semi-final and the World Cup final in 2023. Rohit Sharma’s team also lost the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023.
FOLLOW IND VS AUS MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Opting to bat first in their first ODI match at the venue since 2019, Australia received a reprieve off the first delivery when Mohammed Shami put down Travis Head off his bowling. Led later Steve Smith (73) and Alex Carey’s (61) half-centuries, Australia returned 264 in 49.3 overs after Shami snapped three wickets.
Story continues below this ad
In reply, India lost openers Rohit and Shubman Gill before Kohli took control over proceedings and broke a few landmarks en route another match-winning knock. Kohli became the second batter to reach 8000 ODI runs in chases after Sachin Tendulkar and also surpassed Shikhar Dhawan as India’s highest run-scorer in Champions Trophy hory. While Kohli holed out to the long-on fielder in the 43rd over, KL Rahul (42 not out) put the game to bed with a six off Glenn Maxwell in th penultimate over.
IND vs AUS Semi-Final Full Scorecard: Watch Here
Record fifth final
India will now meet the winner of Wednesday’s second semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand in Lahore in a record-extending fifth Champions Trophy final. The Men in Blue were adjudged joint-winners in the 2002 edition alongside hosts Sri Lanka before beating England in the 2013 final at Edgbaston five runs. They failed to defend their crown in 2017, losing to Pakan a staggering 180 runs in the summit clash at the Oval. India had also lost the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy final against the Kiwis four wickets in Nairobi.
On a seven-match winning streak in ODIs this year, India will have a four-day break before the final in Dubai on Sunday.
