KL Rahul led India to a four-wicket victory over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy first semi-final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. His unbeaten 42 runs from 34 balls included a winning six to seal the match.
A memorable moment occurred when a fan rushed onto the pitch to hug Rahul after his match-winning shot. The fan managed to embrace Rahul before security personnel removed him from the field.
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Australia posted a competitive total of 264 runs, with Steve Smith scoring 73 and Alex Carey contributing 61 runs. Virat Kohli earned the Player of the Match award with his crucial 84 runs, while Rahul’s unbeaten 42 helped India win with 11 balls remaining.
Steve Smith, leading an injury-affected Australian team, chose to bat first. Mohammed Shami missed a catch from Travis Head early but dismissed Cooper Connolly for a duck.
Varun Chakravarthy removed the dangerous Travis Head for 39 runs. Smith survived two close calls – when the ball hit his stumps without dislodging the bails, and when Shami dropped a return catch.
Ravindra Jadeja claimed the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Inglis. Shami later dismissed Smith with a full toss. Alex Carey’s run-out came at a crucial moment, leading to Australia’s collapse in the final overs.
India’s chase began with Rohit Sharma surviving two dropped catches before scoring 28 runs. Shubman Gill’s innings ended when he dragged a Ben Dwarshuis delivery onto his stumps.
Shreyas Iyer scored 45 runs and built a significant partnership with Kohli. Glenn Maxwell dropped Kohli after his fifty, but Adam Zampa broke the 91-run partnership by bowling out Iyer.
Kohli’s dismissal in the 43rd over created tension in the match. Hardik Pandya’s quick 28 runs, including three sixes, eased the pressure before Rahul finished the game with a six off Maxwell.
India will play the final in Dubai on Sunday against either South Africa or New Zealand, who face each other in Lahore on Wednesday. India has played all their matches in Dubai, having declined to tour Pakistan due to political tensions between the two nations.
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