Victorious India set up Pakistan final
Yuvraj Singh played another brilliant innings
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Saturday, 22, Sep 2007 09:29
India came through a nerve-racking encounter against Australia in the World Twenty20 semi-final at Durban to book a blockbusting final clash with arch-rivals Pakistan.
Australia were set a target of 189 runs for victory after Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh hammered 70 off just 30 balls to lift his side to 188-5. Australia were in the hunt right till the last over but eventually fell short by just 15 runs.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss for India and decided to bat first. His side got off to a tentative start and openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir failed to take advantage of the field restrictions in the first six overs.
Sehwag and Gambhir both fell to Mitchell Johnson, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise for India as Yuvraj came to the crease and smashed the ball to all parts of the ground.
Yuvraj, who hit six sixes in an over against England, was in brilliant form again and hit five sixes and four fours, including a tournament-best 119 metre six off the bowling of Brett Lee.
Young batsman Robin Uthappa joined in with the six-hitting as he cleared the boundary ropes three times in his innings of 34.
Yuvraj was caught in the deep by Michael Hussey off the bowling of Michael Clarke with 2.5 overs left in the innings. But Dhoni was at the crease for India and his quick-fire 36 helped India to a competitive total.
Australia's run chase did not get off to the best of starts as first Adam Gilchrist (22) was bowled by Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and then Adam Hodge (11) was caught at fine-leg to leave Australia on 68-2.
But then Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds steadied things for Australia by putting on 66 runs together. With the pair going well, the Aussies only needed 55 from 5.5 overs.
India got their stranglehold back on the game as Sreesanth bowled Hayden for 62 and Irrfan Pathan bowled Symonds for 43.
Australia lost their way from there and needed 22 runs from the final over. But Joginder Sharma claimed the wickets of Hussey and Brett Lee as Australia finished on 173-7.