Ravi Shastri: Australia are favourites (Courtesy Cricinfo Talk)
WORLD TWENTY20 semi-final, Durban: Australia v India
Favorites Australia face brilliant India in the second semi-final, at Durban on Saturday evening India were brilliant in their victory over England earlier in the week, assisted by a dazzling innings from Yuvraj Singh, who scored 50 off 12 balls and hit six sixes off one over. They were also ruthless in their destruction of South Africa on Thursday night. The only loss in the tournament out of five matches came against New Zealand as they fell 10 runs short while chasing.
Australia, pre-tournament favourites, suffered two shock defeats, first losing to Zimbabwe in the first round and then to Pakistan in the second, but coach Tim Nielsen believes the team is peaking at the right time.
The second semi-final starts at 18:00.
ICC World 20-20, IND vs AUS, Semi Final: India beat Australia by 15 runs
Sep 22, 2007
India ousted Australia by 15 runs to book a place in the finals of World Twenty20 in Durban today.
After setting Australia a daunting target of 189, India restricted the World Champions to 173-7 and set up a finals against arch-rivals Pakistan on Monday in Johannesburg.
Earlier,Yuvraj Singh yet again took Australia to the cleaners with some power hitting as the left-handed bomber smashed a 30-ball 70 to whisk India away to a terrific 188-5.
ICC World Twenty20, IND vs AUS, Semi Final: India 188-5 (20 overs) beat Australia 173-7 (20 overs) by 15 runs
ICC World 20-20, IND vs AUS, Semi Final: Dhoni, Yuvraj set for Twenty20 semi-final
Sep 22, 2007
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and key batsman Yuvraj Singh will take the field in Saturday's Twenty20 semi-final against Australia after recovering from injuries.
Yuvraj missed Thursday's crucial encounter against South Africa due to tendonitis in his left elbow sustained against England the previous day in which he hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over.
Dhoni, suffering back pain, handed the wicket-keeping gloves to Dinesh Karthick in the 37-run win over South Africa which propelled India to the top of group E in the Super Eights round.
"I am still smiling so I will hopefully play the next match," said Dhoni.
"It was just a strain in the lower back, on the right hand side. I had the luxury of having Karthick in the side, who is a specialist keeper.
"I did not want to aggravate the injury. I think hopefully it will be fine before the semi-final."
Dhoni said Yuvraj also will be fit against the formidable Australians, adding the left-hander was rested against South Africa as a precautionary measure.
India team (from): M.S. Dhoni (captain), Ajit Agarkar, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Virender Sehwag, Joginder Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Rohit Sharma, R.P. Singh, Yuvraj Singh, S. Sreesanth and Robin Uthappa.
Australia team (from): Adam Gilchrist (captain), Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Andrew Symonds, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark,, Brad Haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus and Brad Hogg.
Favorites Australia face brilliant India in the second semi-final, at Durban on Saturday evening
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