Australia vs. India: Highlights, Scorecard, Report from Cricket World Cup
The 2015 Cricket World Cup final will be fought out by the host nations after Australia crushed India by 95 runs to set up a meeting with New Zealand on Sunday.
After a torrid lead-up to the World Cup, India found form with a vengeance to raise hope of MS Dhoni’s men defending their crown.
However, they came up against an Australia side who were dominant with bat and ball and ran out worthy winners at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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Australia won the toss on a glorious day in Sydney, with skipper Michael Clarke clearly of the opinion that piling on a big score would provide his revered pace attack with plenty to play with.
That is exactly what happened, as Steven Smith hit a superb century and Australia set India 329 for victory.
David Warner laid down the early foundations by driving Umesh Yadav’s first ball for four and he ended that over with a glorious flick off his legs for six.
Yadav hit back by drawing Warner into a loose stroke and lobbing the ball up to cover. The wicket was greeted by the sort of cheer that suggested India were at home.
The SCG may be firmly within Australia’s backyard, but it was taken over by hordes of India supporters.
For the next 30 overs, the crowd—the Indian support at least—was virtually silent as Aaron Finch and Smith built a huge partnership.
Smith looked in supreme touch from the off, with a delightful straight drive off Yadav signalling his intention.
Finch was less fluent, but with Smith taking 16 off Yadav’s fifth over with four fours, there was no huge pressure to score.
Smith was in such control that he brought up his century in the 33rd over, and it was appropriate that it was a boundary.
"HUNDRED for Steve Smith! What a brilliant innings. http://t.co/Wh1S4B6bnU #AUSvIND #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/UhgyuBsbFe
— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) March 26, 2015"
India were in dire need of a wicket, and they got Smith for 105, with the Australia No. 3 failing to control a hook shot and looping a catch to Rohit Sharma off Yadav.
Glenn Maxwell was only ever going to play one way, and he struck his first ball of the match for four.
Maxwell threatened to take the game out of India's reach, but he fell for a 14-ball 23 and it signalled a shift in momentum.
"WATCH: Big wicket as the danger man Maxwell goes. Australia 232/3. Watch #IndvAus live on Sky Sports World Cup now. http://t.co/iB8iPzY5Rm
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 26, 2015"
Finch got stuck in a rut and fell for 81, with another short ball from Yadav doing the trick.
Clarke could not find any fluency, and he too was undone by a short ball, this time from Mohit Sharma.
There were broad smiles on the faces of India players and fans as their bowlers stifled the scoring, but some good late hitting from Shane Watson, James Faulkner and Mitchell Johnson took Australia to an imposing 328 for seven.
| Batsman | How Out | Runs | Minutes | Balls |
| AJ Finch | c Dhawan b Yadav | 81 | 160 | 116 |
| DA Warner | c Kohli b Yadav | 12 | 14 | 7 |
| SPD Smith | c RG Sharma b Yadav | 105 | 122 | 93 |
| GJ Maxwell | c Rahane b Ashwin | 23 | 16 | 14 |
| SR Watson | c Rahane b MM Sharma | 28 | 51 | 30 |
| MJ Clarke* | c RG Sharma b MM Sharma | 10 | 16 | 12 |
| JP Faulkner | b Yadav | 21 | 19 | 12 |
| BJ Haddin† | not out | 7 | 21 | 7 |
| MG Johnson | not out | 27 | 13 | 9 |
| Extras | (b 1, lb 7, w 6) | 14 | ||
| Total | (7 wickets; 50 overs) | 328 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| Mohammed Shami | 10 | 0 | 68 | 0 |
| UT Yadav | 9 | 0 | 72 | 4 |
| MM Sharma | 10 | 0 | 75 | 2 |
| V Kohli | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| RA Jadeja | 10 | 0 | 56 | 0 |
| R Ashwin | 10 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
India’s innings began under controversial circumstances, as Rohit edged Mitchell Starc to Watson at first slip.
Watson claimed the catch, but the umpires sent it upstairs for a review. In real time, it looked as if Watson had taken it clean, but the slow motion cast doubt and Rohit was given not out.
"It was a dramatic start to the run chase! Do you think this should've been out? WATCH http://t.co/xc9MucjF8w #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Bvc5JsfKyD
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 26, 2015"
Shikhar Dhawan was handed a huge slice of luck in the fourth over as he chased a ball from Josh Hazlewood and got a thick edge. The ball was flying toward Watson at first slip, but keeper Brad Haddin dived across and shelled the chance.
After a tough early examination, Dhawan found life easier against Faulkner and beat him for a six and two fours in his opening over.
With Faulkner looking like fodder for the bowlers, Clarke turned to Hazlewood and he made the breakthrough.
Dhawan drove a full ball sweetly over cover, but Maxwell was patrolling in the deep and took the catch. Maxwell was the only man out on the fence in front of square on either side of the wicket, but Dhawan picked him out.
Dhawan's departure checked India’s momentum. The scoring rate fell and Australia chipped away with wickets.
Virat Kohli was the star man for India, but he found Johnson too hot to handle, spooning a short ball straight up in the air before Haddin made the simple catch.
Rohit Sharma attempted to wrestle the game back for India and pulled Johnson dismissively over midwicket for six.
The bowler had the final word, though, as one ball later a rapid, full ball got through Rohit Sharma and cannoned into his stumps to leave India tottering at 91 for three.
Australia sensed weakness and ramped up the pressure, with Starc working over Suresh Raina with short balls and verbals.
Faulkner returned, but it did not work to India’s advantage as he prised out Raina. The India No. 5 has always been susceptible to the short ball and he hung his bat out at a delivery, dug in and feathered the ball behind to Haddin.
Ajinkya Rahane and Dhoni rebuilt for India with a 70-run partnership, but the rate continued to climb. With 14 overs remaining, the holders required over 11 an over.
Clarke turned to Starc, who struck with his second ball. Rahane chased a wide one and got the faintest of touches. Australia reviewed the original not-out decision, Snicko showed a small spike and the batsman was sent on his way.
"WICKET: The slightest of edges and on such small margins are matches won. Rahane goes and India are 178/5. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/rViDXwh6tM
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 26, 2015"
Haddin and Starc were not convinced, but Smith's golden summer period continued as he charged in from cover to plead for the review.
If there was any doubt about Smith being named man of the match, he provided another clip for his highlight reel with a brilliant run out of Ravindra Jadeja. Smith had one stump to aim at and found it in stunning fashion to leave the batsman a foot short.
India's hopes rested on Dhoni and he smashed a couple of big blows off Watson, but he fell to a brilliant run out form Maxwell and it sealed the win for Australia.
| Batsman | How Out | Runs | Minutes | Balls |
| RG Sharma | b Johnson | 34 | 48 | |
| S Dhawan | c Maxwell b Hazlewood | 45 | 41 | |
| V Kohli | c †Haddin b Johnson | 1 | 13 | |
| AM Rahane | c †Haddin b Starc | 44 | 68 | |
| SK Raina | c †Haddin b Faulkner | 7 | 11 | |
| MS Dhoni*† | run out (Maxwell) | 65 | 65 | |
| RA Jadeja | run out (Smith) | 16 | 17 | |
| R Ashwin | b Faulkner | 5 | 13 | |
| Mohammed Shami | not out | 0 | 0 | |
| MM Sharma | b Faulkner | 0 | 1 | |
| UT Yadav | b Starc | 0 | 5 | |
| Extras | (lb 8, w 5, nb 2) | 15 | ||
| Total | (all out; 46.5 overs) | 233 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| MA Starc | 8.5 | 0 | 28 | 2 |
| JR Hazlewood | 10 | 1 | 41 | 1 |
| MG Johnson | 10 | 0 | 50 | 2 |
| JP Faulkner | 9 | 1 | 59 | 3 |
| GJ Maxwell | 5 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| SR Watson | 4 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
It is fitting that Australia and New Zealand will fight out the final, as they have been the two most dynamic sides in the competition. Hopefully, it will make for a brilliant occasion in Melbourne.
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