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India beat South Africa to win T20 World Cup after fine death bowling and Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning catch | Cricket News

On: June 30, 2024 By: admin

India edged South Africa to win their second T20 World Cup title and first since 2007 as an astounding catch from Suryakumar Yadav and excellent death bowling clinched a nerve-shredding seven-run victory in Barbados.

South Africa – playing in their first World Cup final in either T20 or 50-over cricket after winning a semi-final at the eighth attempt against Afghanistan – looked poised to reach their target of 177 when Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27) took Axar Patel’s 15th over for 24, trimming the requirement to 30 from 30 balls.

However, Jasprit Bumrah (2-18) shipped only six runs combined from the 16th and 18th overs, while Klaasen snicked Hardik Pandya (3-20) behind in between and after the Proteas could muster only four runs off Arshdeep Singh’s 19th, the new ask became 16 off six.

David Miller (21 off 17) then thought he had crunched Hardik’s first-ball full toss for six, only for the twinkle-toed Suryakumar to pull off a spellbinding grab at long-off as he caught the ball, threw it back into play before his momentum took him over the rope, and then pouched it again when he returned to the field – it was a moment as breath-taking as it was important.

South Africa managed only eight further runs as they ended on 169-8 and India became the first team in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup to go through a whole tournament unbeaten, dashing the Proteas’ hopes of claiming that achievement for themselves.

India had last won a global ICC event at the 2013 Champions Trophy, with their previous World Cup success the 2011 50-over edition on home turf.

This T20 triumph for India comes seven months after they lost the 50-over World Cup final to Australia in Ahmedabad – their only defeat in that competition. History would not repeat itself.

Kohli back in the runs in thrilling World Cup final

Earlier, Player of the Match Virat Kohli (76 off 59 balls) – who has now confirmed his retirement from T20 internationals -ended a slump in form, which had seen him average less than 11 in the tournament with 75 runs in seven innings and a best of 37, by underpinning India’s total of 176-7 after his side had sunk to 34-3 inside five overs.

Rohit Sharma’s men were on the back foot as the skipper (9) and Rishabh Pant (0) both fell sweeping Keshav Maharaj in the second over, with their plight worsening when Suryakumar (3) holed out off Kagiso Rabada three overs later.

But Kohli, who had struck three boundaries in Marco Jansen’s 15-run first over before reining himself in, found a fine ally in the enterprising Axar (47 off 31), with the latter dominating a fourth-wicket stand of 72 from 54 balls before he was brilliantly run out by Quinton de Kock.

Kohli also stitched a half-century alliance with Shivam Dube (27 off 16) as he notched a 38th T20 international fifty from 38 balls prior to being caught at deep midwicket off Jansen in the penultimate over.

India looted the highest score in a Men’s T20 World Cup final, eclipsing the 173-2 Australia posted against New Zealand in the 2021 final in the UAE, but Maharaj (2-23) and Anrich Nortje (2-26) limited their opponents to a gettable score.

It looked out of South Africa’s reach as the Proteas plummeted to 12-2 with Reeza Hendricks (4) bowled by a gorgeous out-swinger from Bumrah and captain Aiden Markram (4) edging Arshdeep behind on the drive.

De Kock (39 off 31) and Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21) rallied the first-time finalists with a quick-fire 58, with the sixes they smoked including one from De Kock off Kuldeep Yadav that went out the ground.

Stubbs was bowled around his legs by Axar but De Kock and Klaasen then added 36 off 23 deliveries and when De Kock was pouched at deep fine leg – straight after hitting a four in that area – Klaasen and Miller pounded boundaries, with Klaasen hammering three in a row off Axar to make South Africa favourites.

However, Bumrah’s frugal two-over spell, which also included castling Jansen, dragged India back into the game and his efforts came in a successful cause as Suryakumar’s scarcely believable catch went a long way to breaking South Africa’s hearts in Bridgetown.

What’s next?

The next global event in men’s cricket is the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February and March, at which the host nation will be joined by India, South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Another T20 World Cup will then be held in India and Bangladesh in early 2026.

Bangladesh will also host the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, with that competition beginning in Dhaka on Thursday October 3 and concluding in the same city on Sunday October 20.

The top two teams in each first-round group will qualify for the semi-finals.

Women’s T20 World Cup groups

Group A: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Group B: South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Scotland

Every match from the Women’s T20 World Cup will be live on Sky Sports, with England vs South Africa the opening game on Thursday October 3 (10am start UK and Ireland time).

India vs South Africa: Captain Aiden Markram ‘gutted’ after Proteas fall agonisingly short of T20 crown | Cricket News

On: June 29, 2024 By: admin

South Africa captain Aiden Markram said he was “gutted” after his sides heart-breaking defeat in the T20 World Cup final with Sky Sports Cricket pundit Eoin Morgan saying the Proteas “spectacularly fell apart”.

South Africa were favourites after Heinrich Klaasen (52) smashed 22 runs off the 15th over to slash their required total from 54 runs to 30 after muscling Axar Patel (1-49) for back-to-back sixes over long-on and hitting two boundaries either side of that over too.

However, superb death bowling from Hardik Pandya (3-20) and Jasprit Bumrah (2-18) removed the threat of Klaasen and Marco Jansen (2) respectively, with Suryakumar Yadav taking what commentator Ian Smith described on as “the greatest catch in cricket,” leading India to complete an epic win.

When Klaasen was dismissed in the 17th over, the camera panned to his skipper Markram crying in dugout. He knew with that wicket also fell much of South Africa’s hopes.

“Obviously gutted for the time being, it will take us some time to have a reflection on the good campaign that we’ve had,” said Markram in the post-match interview.

“For the time being, like I’ve mentioned, it hurts quite a bit but having said that, I’m still incredibly proud of this group of players and everyone that’s involved in this team.

“We bowled well. I don’t think there was a lot to work with in the pitch so I thought they did well to restrict India to what we thought was a total we could chase.

“Thought we batted well and it came down to the wire. It was a really good game of cricket on all fronts. I’m really chuffed with the guys and incredibly proud of them.

“It did seem possible, we’ve seen with a lot of our games that it’s not over until it’s over. We never got comfortable and there was always that element of scoreboard pressure.”

South Africa reached the final with an unbeaten record throughout their campaign, winning over associate teams Nepal and USA, as well as Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Bangladesh, England, West Indies and Afghanistan.

Previously, South Africa had lost seven World Cup semi-finals across 20-over and 50-over cricket and overcame what seemed like an impossible hurdle in reaching the final.

“We got into a good position which proves that we’re worthy finalists,” Markram added.

“It’s gut-wrenching… the way this game went only adds to the emotions.

“I think one thing that is guaranteed about South Africans, wherever they are in the world, is that they are really competitive, respectful, and they go down with a fight. That’s something we pride ourselves on.

“Hopefully moving forward we can draw a lot from these things but it’s still a proud moment for us.”

South Africa certainly did not go down without a fight.

Their bowlers exposed a nervy India side, reducing them to 34-3 within the powerplay after skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat.

Virat Kohli smashed a vital 76 in his final ever T20 World Cup to help India post 176-7, an above par score, and despite this South Africa still managed to get within touching distance of victory helped by Quinton de Kock (39), David Miller (21) and Klaasen.

“South Africa quite spectacularly fell apart,” said Sky Sports Cricket pundit Morgan.

“It wasn’t nice. You see the quality of the players they have in their line up with the likes of Quinton de Kock at the top of the order and Tristan Stubbs, it felt like the momentum was with South Africa today.

“They basically took the game to the brink of winning it and got so close, you’ve got to stick to the process for as long as possible and the process will take you to where you want to be. It’s incredibly disappointing for them.”

With India’s T20 greats Kohli and Rohit bowing out after this campaign, as well as head coach Rahul Dravid, it felt like the stars had aligned for them to leave crowned as champions.

A 20-year-old Rohit Sharma was part of the India side that won the inaugural campaign in 2007.

Seventeen years later, he was able to lift the trophy once again.

This time as a captain, with his children celebrating alongside him, on his final day in international T20 cricket.

For South Africa, their silverware search continues. One that they hope is not too far away. As Ian Bishop said: “There is no doubt, Aiden, that your time will come in the future.”

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India beat South Africa to win T20 World World Cup after Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning catch | Cricket News

On: June 29, 2024 By: admin

India edged South Africa to win their second T20 World Cup title and first since 2007 as an astounding catch from Suryakumar Yadav and excellent death bowling clinched a seven-run win in Barbados.

South Africa – playing in their first World Cup final in either T20 or 50-over cricket after winning a semi-final at the eighth attempt against Afghanistan earlier this week – looked poised to reach their target of 177 when Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27) took Axar Patel’s 15th over for 24, trimming the ask to 30 from 30 balls.

However, Bumrah conceded only six runs combined from the 16th and 18th overs, while Klaasen snicked Hardik Pandya behind in between and after the Proteas could muster only four runs off Arshdeep Singh’s 19th, the new requirement became 16 off six.

David Miller then thought he had crunched Hardik’s first-ball full toss for six, only for Suryakumar to pull off a spellbinding grab at long off as he caught the ball, threw it back into play before he tumbled over the rope, and then pouched it again when he returned to the field.

South Africa managed only eight further runs as they ended on 169-8 and India became the first team in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup to go through a tournament unbeaten, dashing the Proteas’ hopes of claiming that achievement for themselves.

More to follow.

T20 World Cup final: Unbeaten sides India and South Africa collide in Barbados, live on Sky Sports | Cricket News

On: June 29, 2024 By: admin

Ahead of Saturday’s Men’s T20 World Cup final between South Africa and India, Sky Sports pundits Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton and Eoin Morgan assess where the match may be decided.

South Africa skittled Afghanistan for just 56 en route to a nine-wicket victory on a spicy track in Trinidad as they won a World Cup semi-final after seven failed attempts, while India thumped 2022 champions England by 68 runs on a slow surface in Guyana.

One of these teams will become the first to win the Men’s T20 World Cup having gone through the tournament unbeaten, so will it be a first World Cup success for South Africa or first since 2011 for India?

Here is our pundits’ take ahead of the Barbados showdown, which you can watch on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm (3.30pm first ball).

Is the pressure on India?

Sky Sports Cricket’s Nasser Hussain:

“You’d be a fool to say India beat England because of the conditions. They played on a bouncy pitch against Australia, who love those conditions, in St Lucia and won.

“Their batting line-up. Their pace attack. Their spinners. They have every base covered. And a slight advantage is that they have played a game here in Barbados and South Africa haven’t.

“South Africa have got that monkey off their back of seven semi-finals lost and if the pressure can be off, then it shifts to India.

“India have not won a title for a very long time. For all their resources and the players they have, they feel it is about time to win it and all of India will be expecting them to win it.

“As for South Africa, they made some difficult decisions, focusing on their franchise T20 competition and choosing not to send players to New Zealand for Test cricket.

“They took a gamble and copped a lot of stick for that [but it has paid off]. It would mean so much to South Africa but it means so much to India as well.”

‘Hopefully the pitch has pace’

Sky Sports Cricket’s Michael Atherton:

“The best two teams are in the final.

“On a slow, low holding pitch, India would be much stronger favourites, so I hope there is a pitch with pace. If it goes through, South Africa’s pace battery comes into it.

“It is a significant pace battery. We saw against Afghanistan that if there is a bit in the pitch, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen are dangerous.

“However, Jasprit Bumrah has been the bowler of the tournament. He is not the leading wicket-taker but when he has ball in hand, he has been incredibly difficult to get away.

“As a chasing side, you almost fashion your chase around him. You can’t afford to get too far behind the rate for the 17th and 19th overs that he bowls.”

‘South Africa must go blow for blow with India’

Sky Sports Cricket’s Eoin Morgan:

“I think India, having been in finals before, are better equipped to apply pressure than South Africa and South Africa will have go blow for blow with the bat.

“If they don’t, India could bat them out of the game as they did to England in the semi-finals. Rohit Sharma embodies that shift in attacking mindset for India.

“India have had a short turnaround from playing in the second semi-final but they will be used to that from the IPL. You may play three games in five days and be dotted around all four corners of India.

“South Africa had quite a light workout against Afghanistan and should be fresher, but India will be immune to [the tiredness].”

Watch the T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa, at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm on Saturday (3.30pm first ball).

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Jos Buttler: England captain reflects on T20 World Cup exit and promises review after India thrashing | Cricket News

On: June 27, 2024 By: admin

England captain Jos Buttler promised a thorough review will take place after his side’s up-and-down T20 World Cup that ended with a semi-final thrashing at the hands of India.

When England won the tournament in 2022 they blitzed the same opponents at the same stage by 10 wickets in Adelaide, but this time the boot was on the other foot.

Chasing 172 on a difficult batting pitch Buttler’s side were bundled out for 103, crashing to a 68-run loss to ensure they leave the Caribbean on the back of a bitter defeat.

Their efforts in the tournament have at least been an improvement on their previous title defence, a miserable 50-over World Cup campaign last year that saw them rack up six defeats from nine games, but there are still questions to answer.

While England proved far too much for associate nations Oman, Namibia and the United States, they stacked up poorly against their more prestigious rivals, losing to Australia, South Africa and India over the course of the tournament.

“We will review everything and come up with a plan, absolutely,” Buttler told reporters after his side’s World Cup exit.

“You have to review what we need to do better as a team, if that is the way we play, personnel, style of cricket.

“After a loss like that you are ready for a bit of space to take it in and process it so you can review not just this game but the last few months.

“I think there is lots of talent in the English game. It is up to us as an England team and country to harness that talent, develop and make sure we can continue to have a good team moving forward. There’s some time between today and the next matches so we’ll see what happens.”

In the short term, Buttler will head back home to spend time with his family, particularly his newborn third child who arrived shortly before the tournament.

“To be honest, I’m just looking forward to some time away from the game,” he added.

“You can sit here and be emotional after a loss but I don’t need to dive too deep into it right now.

“I think reaching a semi-final is an achievement but we wanted to go all the way. That’s what we came here for. We played well enough to get to this stage but unfortunately we’ve fallen short.”

Watch the T20 World Cup final in Barbados from 3pm on Saturday (3.30pm first ball), live on Sky Sports Cricket.

England vs India: Jos Buttler’s side crash out in T20 World Cup semi-final after being skittled for 103 | Cricket News

On: June 27, 2024 By: admin

India’s spinners crushed a woeful England side in the T20 World Cup semi-final as they secured a dominant 68-run victory at the Guyana National Stadium.

India will meet unbeaten side South Africa, who earlier thrashed Afghanistan for 56 all out, in the final in Barbados on Saturday (3pm), live on Sky Sports.

Rohit Sharma’s men posted 171-7 in a rain-interrupted innings after being asked to bat first, and then bowled England out for 103 with 20 balls to spare, with left-arm spinner Axar Patel (3-23) and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav (3-19) doing the damage as the defending champions were unable to counter the attack.

England looked in trouble when they lost Jos Buttler (23) and Phil Salt (5) early on in the powerplay and were unable to recover during their innings, losing their final five wickets for only 35 runs against a rampant India side as they fell from 68-6 in the 11th over to 103 all out.

Earlier, Rohit Sharma (57) brought up his third half-century of the tournament and shared a 73-run partnership with Suryakumar Yadav (47) between the rain delays, to help their side post a strong total on a pitch with low bounce and high turn.

England’s Chris Jordan (2-27) took two wickets in two balls in the 18th over, removing Hardik Pandya (23) and Shivam Dube (0), while Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, Jofra Archer and Sam Curran all took one wicket each.

More to follow…

Watch the T20 World Cup final in Barbados from 3pm on Saturday (3.30pm first ball), live on Sky Sports Cricket.

T20 World Cup: Could rain ruin England’s hopes of defending title with poor weather forecast for India semi-final? | Cricket News

On: June 25, 2024 By: admin

England have safely negotiated a rocky route and a fair bit of rain to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup – but could the weather again be set to scupper Jos Buttler’s side?

After opening their tournament with a rain-off against Scotland in Barbados which, followed up by defeat to Australia, had England on the brink of elimination before the holders turned things around to sneak into the Super 8s and then secure a final four spot.

But the forecast is again poor for their Thursday semi-final date against India in Guyana – live on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm (first ball, 3.30pm) – and so what would that mean for England’s hopes of defending their title? We attempt to break it all down for you…

What is the forecast like for England’s semi-final?

According to the Met Office, as of Tuesday, the weather forecast for Thursday in Guyana is currently showing as “thunder showers changing to heavy showers by late morning”, with a 60 per cent chance of rain predicted.

Guyana hosted five matches in the initial group stage of the tournament, none of which were rained off, albeit the last of them came over a fortnight ago on June 8.

As for the first semi-final between South Africa and Afghanistan in Trinidad on Wednesday evening – live on Sky Sports Cricket from 1am Thursday morning (first ball, 1.30am) – the Met Office suggests there will be “light showers changing to clear by early evening”, around the time the match is scheduled for.

What are the rules if it were to rain?

There is no reserve day available for the second semi-final between England and India – although an extra 250 minutes is available to look to complete the match on the scheduled day.

It means that if the game cannot be completed due to poor weather, India will advance by virtue of topping their Super 8s pool.

The first semi-final between South Africa – who topped Group 2 – and Afghanistan, on Wednesday evening in Trinidad, does have a reserve day factored in for Thursday.

Section 13.6.2.1 of the ICC’s playing conditions for the tournament states: “The Final on 29 June will have a reserve day on 30 June. The semi-finals will each have additional time added in order to complete the match which will total 250 minutes.

“For the first semi-final on 26 June, 60 minutes will be available at the end of the day’s play with the remaining 190 minutes scheduled for 2pm on 27 June. Whilst the additional 250 minutes for the second semi-final scheduled on 27 June will be utilised if needed through extended playing hours on the scheduled day.”

Why are England playing in the second semi-final?

It was pre-determined that if India reached the final four of the tournament, they would play in the second semi-final as it is at a more friendly time for their country’s TV audience (8pm India).

None of India’s matches in the competition have come at the scheduled time of the first semi-final (6am India).

With India finishing as Group 1 winners in the Super 8s and England as runners-up in Group 2, it therefore ensured they’d drop into the second semi.

What do the experts say? – ‘I don’t think it’s ideal at all’

Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton: “England and India’s semi-final doesn’t have a rain day. If there’s rain in that game, whoever finished first in their group goes through.

“The vagaries of the organisation have put pressure on the organising of the tournament, and it’s meant that the two semi-finals are played to slightly different rules and regs.

“Secondly, India knew all along that they were going to be in Guyana for the semi-final and, therefore could plan for it. Their logistics were already in tow for Indian supporters a chance to get to Georgetown… England fans won’t have that chance because it’s so late.

“One team knew that they were going to that semi-final and I don’t think it’s ideal at all.”

Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain: “You can’t have two semi-finals with two different playing conditions, where one has a rain day and the other one doesn’t.

“The first one is made up over two days effectively or a day and a half. The second one, the England-India game, is made up over that whole day – it’s 250 minutes that they can make up.

“We could rock up at 8am in the morning for a 10.30am start (local) and still be there at 10pm at night trying to finish off that game!

“The second semi-final is a 10.30am start because the players, the teams, the officials have to then fly to Barbados for the Saturday final.

“And it’s given to India because of the TV audience in India, the biggest audience for the ICC [International Cricket Council]. Not just India, but Bangladesh, Pakistan and that part of the world.

“My thoughts are that the first part of the tournament seemed to meander along a little bit, with the long gaps… you could have got those games a bit closer together, rather than at the real business end have just one day between a crucial second semi-final and a final.”

Has something similar ever happened before?

England’s Women were dumped out of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup after a washout in their semi-final against India due to heavy rain in Sydney.

Again there was no reserve day scheduled, allowing for India to qualify for the final by virtue of finishing top of their group, compared to England who were runners-up in theirs after suffering an opening loss to South Africa.

Hosts and eventual winners Australia – runners-up to India – appeared to be facing the same fate, with both semi-finals being played at the same venue on the same day on this occasion, until the clouds cleared sufficiently to see them beat South Africa to a place in the final.

How did England reach the semi-finals?

After England’s hopes of progressing through to the Super 8s were hanging by the proverbial thread due to the Scotland rain-off and Australia loss, they then dismantled Oman – skittling the associate nation for 47 before completing the run chase in just 19 balls to, crucially, take their net run rate above Scotland’s.

They then managed to beat the rain and Namibia in Antigua, comfortably winning a 10-over-a-side encounter by 41 runs on DLS after initially fearing a tournament-ending washout.

Even with those back-to-back wins, Buttler’s side were reliant on Australia beating Scotland in their final match and they would have been jittery when the Scots posted 180-5 batting first and even more so when Australia needed 89 runs still from the final seven overs of their chase, before the 2021 champions ultimately romped home two balls to spare.

Having squeezed into the Super 8s, England truly arrived by dismantling hosts West Indies by eight wickets in their best performance of the tournament, chasing down a challenging target of 181 with 15 deliveries to spare thanks to an unbeaten 87 from 47 balls from Phil Salt.

A seven-run defeat to South Africa followed, despite a late revival from Harry Brook (53 off 37) and Liam Livingstone (33 off 17) threatened to see them over the line.

A thumping win over the USA was therefore required to ensure a semi-final spot and England duly delivered one as Chris Jordan bagged the England men’s team a first T20 international hat-trick before Buttler (83no off 38) hammered his team into the last four as they chased down 116 inside 10 overs and with all 10 wickets in hand.

When are the semi-finals and final?

Thursday June 27

Semi-final #1 – South Africa vs Afghanistan, Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago (1.30am)
Semi-final #2 – India vs England, Providence, Guyana (3.30pm)

Saturday June 29

Final – Bridgetown, Barbados (3.30pm)

Catch every match from the T20 World Cup, including the final in Barbados on Saturday June 29, live on Sky Sports.

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T20 World Cup: India set up England semi-final as Rohit Sharma fires; Australia in danger of elimination | Cricket News

On: June 24, 2024 By: admin

Rohit Sharma struck a stunning 92 from 41 balls as India beat Australia by 24 runs to clinch a T20 World Cup semi-final against England and leave their opponents in danger of elimination.

Rohit – who hit eight sixes, including his 200th in T20 internationals – raced to fifty off just 19 balls and looked on course for a sixth ton before being bowled by Mitchell Starc, the player he had crunched for four sixes and one four in a 29-run third over in St Lucia.

The skipper’s innings underpinned India’s total of 205-5, a score the 2007 champions would perhaps have hoped to better after being 127-2 in the 11th over with Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav (31 off 16) at the crease, but they went on to score only 43 runs from the final five.

Travis Head (76 off 43) fired for Australia in the reply, helping his side to 125-2 after 12 overs, but they slumped once Glenn Maxwell (20 off 12) was dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav (2-24) at the start of the 14th, with the 2021 champions only mustering 181-7 as India clinched top spot in Group 1 and a Thursday date with England in Guyana (3.30pm).

Australia remain second in the pool but will be dumped out if Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in the final Super 8s fixture in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday (1.30am) while they could also miss out on net run-rate to Bangladesh if the Tigers record a handsome victory and join Australia and Afghanistan on two points.

South Africa await whichever of the three teams progress in the first semi-final in Trinidad (1.30am Thursday), with the Proteas finishing top of Group 2, ahead of England.

Reigning champions England decimated a timid India by eight wickets in the 2022 semi-finals in Adelaide but they will come up against a more aggressive side now – and one unbeaten in this tournament – with captain Rohit leading that shift in mindset.

Rohit racks up runs in India win

After seeing opening partner Virat Kohli (0) caught on the pull off Josh Hazlewood (2-14) in the second over – Kohli is now averaging 11 across six knocks in the tournament with two ducks and a top-score of 37 – Rohit exploded in the third, hitting Starc for sixes over cover, point, midwicket and deep third as well as a four over mid-on.

He then mowed Pat Cummins over midwicket for a 100m six moments before a rain delay and clinched his half-century – the fastest in this World Cup, ahead of the 22-ball efforts from USA’s Aaron Jones and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock – upon the restart.

Rohit tucked into Marcus Stoinis (2-56) as well, with three boundaries in a row in the eighth over including sixes over deep backward square and cover, but his knock was ended when he deflected a Starc yorker onto his stumps in the 12th.

Shivam Dube (28 off 2) hit Starc’s next ball to the fence but India could only manage eight further sixes or fours from that point – Hardik Pandya (27no off 17) nailing two maximums on the trot off Stoinis in the 19th over – with Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins (0-48) and Adam Zampa (0-41) largely restricting their opponents.

Australia lost David Warner – in what is potentially his last game for his country – in the first over of the chase as the veteran opener snicked Arshdeep Singh to Suryakumar at slip for six, only for skipper Mitchell Marsh (37 off 28) and Head to crunch a second-wicket partnership of 81 from 48 balls.

That stand was snapped in stunning style in the ninth over as Axar caught Marsh one-handed on the rope at deep square leg but Australia continued to charge for a while as Head clinched a 24-ball half-century with a four off Hardik and powered three boundaries off Ravindra Jadeja in the 11th.

However, Maxwell was then bowled dancing down the pitch at Kuldeep before Stoinis reverse-swept Axar to point and the innings hit the skids, with the only bright spot for Australia that they kept their net run-rate above Afghanistan’s and held on to second spot – for now.