NEW DELHI: After suffering a 24-run defeat against India in their must-win T20 World Cup Super 8 clash, Australia’s fate now depends on the outcome of the Afghanistan-Bangladesh match.
Australia ended their Super 8 campaign with just one victory in three matches and now require Bangladesh to beat Afghanistan and become the second team from Group 1 to qualify for semifinals.
Australia will fail to reach the last four if Afghanistan, who defeated them by 21 runs in a stunning upset last time out, beat Bangladesh in the concluding game of the Super Eights stage.
Despite a defeat, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh said his team technically still stands a chance for the last four berth and expressed his support for Bangladesh to win.
“It’s disappointing. Still technically a chance to go through, and today India got the better of us. I think over the course of 40 overs there’s a lot of small margins, but honestly, India were the better team,” Marsh said at the post match presentation.
He also lavished praise on Indian captain Rohit Sharma for his blistering knock of 92 emphasising the impact he can have on the game once he settles in at the crease.
“We’ve seen for 15 years what Rohit Sharma can do in that kind of mood, and he got off to an absolute flier. In a run chase like that, you’re in it if you can keep it at tens for as long as possible, but India were too good for us. Come on, Bangladesh!”
Rohit led from the front with 41-ball knock, including seven fours and eight sixes — as his side posted a total of 205-5.
Australia were then held to 181-7, opener Travis Head top-scoring with 76 in an innings where left-arm paceman Arshdeep Singh took 3-37.
India will now play defending champions England in Thursday’s semi-final in Guyana.<\/div>\n