India rode on skipper Rohit Sharma's scintillating 41-ball 92 to beat Australia by 24 runs in their final Super Eights fixture and qualify for the semifinals of the T20 World Cup here on Monday.
Batting first, Rohit fired on all cylinders and struck as many as eight sixes and seven fours during his sparkling knock, which powered India to an imposing 205 for five.
In reply, Australia were restricted to 181 for seven in the stipulated 20 overs. Travis Head top-scored for Australia with 76 off 43 balls.
Among Indian bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav (2/24) performed brilliantly in the middle overs, while Arshdeep Singh ended with figures of 3/37.
Earlier, unperturbed by Virat Kohli's early dismissal, Rohit went after pacer Mitchell Starc and bludgeoned him for 29 runs in his second over, setting the tone for India.
Starc, who was taken to the cleaners by Rohit, returned to dismiss the India captain and give some relief to the Australian camp.
But Suryakumar Yadav (31 off 16 balls) and Shivam Dube (28 off 22) kept up the tempo with their big hits before Hardik Pandya (27 off 17) finished the India innings in style.
Here are the key moments of the match:
1st Innings
Australia win the toss, decide to bowl first
Virat Kohli goes on Duck! Another failure for him
Rohit Sharma hits 29 runs from Starc over, India 35/1
Rohit Sharma completes 50 runs in 20 balls, India 52/1 after 5 overs
Rishabh Pant goes for 15, Stoinis takes the wicket
100 runs comes up for India in 8.4 overs
India 114/2 at the end of 10 overs, Rohit 89*
Rohit Sharma gets out on 92 off 41 balls, Starc gets the breakthrough
SKY falls on 31, caught behind. India 159/4
India set a target of 206 runs for Australia
2nd Innings
Australia start their chase against India, target 206
David Warner falls, Arshdeep gets the wicket. Aus 6/1
Marsh and Head hitting boundaries, Aus 48/1 after 5 overs
Marsh goes for 37, Kuldeep gets the wicket, Axar takes a blinder. Aus 89/2
Travis Head completes his 50 off 24 balls, Aus 99/2 after 10 overs
Maxwell cleaned up, Kuldeep gets the breakthrough. Aus 128/3
Stoinis goes, Axar strikes for India. Aus 135/4
Travis Head goes, Bumrah strikes. Aus 150/5
Wade goes, Arshdeep gets another scalp. Aus 153/6
David goes, Arshdeep strikes. Aus 167/7
India beat Australia by 24 runs
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