After winning the coin toss, Australia managed to post a competitive total of 264 runs in the first semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, thanks to half-centuries from Steven Smith and Alex Carey.
India opted for an unchanged team, fielding four specialist spinners. Despite the fresh pitch and Australia’s aggressive batting approach, India managed to maintain pressure throughout the innings. Varun Chakaravarthy made an immediate impact, dismissing Travis Head with his first delivery. Head, after a slow start, had accelerated to 39 off 33 balls. Mohammed Shami troubled both Australian openers, including Cooper Connolly, with his round-the-wicket strategy. Connolly was eventually dismissed for a duck after facing 9 deliveries.
India gained momentum by dismissing Head, but Steven Smith stabilized the innings. Smith appeared confident, hitting a boundary off Axar Patel early in his innings. He also benefited from some luck, surviving close calls. Smith and Labuschagne formed a partnership, but India restricted boundaries for 50 balls during their stand. Labuschagne eventually fell to Jadeja, ending a 56-run partnership. Smith reached his fifty off 66 balls, marking his fifth half-century in ICC ODI knockout matches, and anchored the Australian innings. However, wickets continued to fall at the other end, including Josh Inglis for 11.
Alex Carey’s arrival injected much-needed impetus into the Australian innings. He and Smith added 54 runs at a brisk pace, targeting the Indian spinners. Carey took the lead in aggression and propelled Australia forward. Smith’s innings concluded at 73 when he missed a full toss from Shami. Glenn Maxwell was dismissed shortly after by Axar. Carey continued his aggressive play, reaching his fifty off 48 balls and disrupting Kuldeep Yadav’s rhythm. However, Carey was run out for 61 by a direct hit from Shreyas Iyer while attempting a second run. Carey’s dismissal as the eighth wicket in the closing overs hampered Australia’s chances for a final surge, and they were eventually bowled out for 264 in the final over.
Brief Score: Australia 264 all out in 49.3 overs (Steven Smith 73, Alex Carey 61; Mohammed Shami 3-48) against India.
