WT20: Kohli's brilliance carries India to WT20 semi-finals

INDIA WIN BY 6 WICKETS!!!

- India 161-4 (19.1 ovs) vs Aus 160-6 | SCORECARD

Virat Kohli slammed an unbeaten half-century to steer India into the semi-finals of the ICC World T20 following a six-wicket victory against Australia in Mohali, on Sunday.

They will take on West Indies in the second semi-final in Mumbai, on Thursday.

Electing to bat first, Australia lost their way after a quickfire start to finish on 160 for six.

Kohli steered India's run chase with a superb innings of 82 from 51 balls, in which he hit nine fours and two sixes.

- India 161-4 (19.1 ovs) vs Aus 160-6 | SCORECARD

Coulter-Nile to bowl the 19th over. He starts with a slower ball as Kohli has a wild swing but fails to make connection before he opens the face of the bat and steers the next ball past point for a four. 16 needed from 10 balls.

The next ball is on the pads as Kohli flicks it past short fine leg for another boundary as India look into total control at the moment.

No stopping Kohli now as he comes down the track and lofts it over the covers for the third successive boundary of the over. 8 needed from eight balls.

He plays and misses the next ball but smashes the next through the covers for the fourth boundary of the over.

Coulter-Nile concedes 16 in the 19th over, leaving India with four to get from the final over.

Dhoni does the finishing act yet again as he carts Faulkner over the leg side for a boundary to take India to a superb victory.

India win by six wickets with five deliveries to spare to book their place in the semi-finals.

- India 141-4 (18 ovs) vs Aus 160-6 | SCORECARD

India will need to attack every ball with an asking rate of 13 in the remaining three overs.

Faulkner comes back as Kohli pulls the first ball through midwicket for a much-needed boundary.

The next ball is full and wide as Kohli steers the second ball square on the off-side for another four, to bring the equation down to 31 needed from 16 balls.

He comes down the track and lofts the third ball over long-off for a six to get 14 runs from the first ball of Faulkner's third over.

The fourth ball is a low full toss which Kohli drives wide of long-on for two more runs followed by a leg bye.

Dhoni drives the last ball to long-on as Kohli calls him back for two runs as Faulkner concedes 19 runs in his third over.

India look comfortable at the moment with 20 needed from the last two overs for victory.

Kohli is playing a great innings, on 66 from 45 balls, while Dhoni is batting on 14 from nine balls.

- India 122-4 (17 ovs) vs Aus 160-6 | SCORECARD

India's required run rate is over 12 per over at the moment. The experienced Watson comes into the attack and he starts with a good yorker, which Dhoni can only block before he gets a single from the next.

Kohli swats a short ball to deep midwicket to bring up his fifty, from 39 balls.

Watson bowling some good yorkers as India's batsmen can only pick singles with the asking rate going up all the time.

Dhoni slashes his bat at the last ball as he gets a thick outside edge for a four.

India are 122 for four in 17 overs, needing 39 from the last three overs for victory.

- India 114-4 (16 ovs) vs Aus 160-6 | SCORECARD

Watson comes back. He tries a short ball to new batsman Dhoni, who rocks back and pulls it behind square on the leg side for a four to bring up India's 100, in the 15th over,

He punches the next ball on the off-side but Coulter-Nile makes a good tumbling stop at point to save some runs.

Kohli gives Hazlewood the charge but is foxed by a slower ball. He swats the next ball to deep midwicket and takes on Maxwell's arm for two runs. The next ball is driven to sweeper cover where Finch fumbles to give an extra run as Kohli takes another couple.

Kohli targets Hazlewood as he charges down the track and lofts him in the gap through midwicket for a four followed bu two more runs through the off-side and ends the over with two more runs on the leg side.

Hazlewood ends his spell with an expensive over, giving away 12, as India reach 114 for four in 16 overs, needing 47 from four overs for victory.

Kohli will the key to India's hopes, he is batting well on 49 from 38 balls, while Dhoni, on six, is still getting his eye in.

- India 94-4 (14 ovs) vs Aus 160-6 | SCORECARD

The required run rate has crossed the 10-runs per over mark and one of the two batsmen has to take a chance or two.

Zampa makes Yuvraj's task easy as he bowls a full toss which the left-hander despatches over long-on for a six. He looks to pull the next ball but misses and is struck on the pads but the appeal for LBW is turned down. That looked very close, but it pitched outside the leg-stump which saved Yuvraj!

Except for the six, Zampa has bowled a tidy over, as he gives away nine runs.

Faulkner comes back and nearly gets the wicket of Kohli, who inside edges the slower ball as it passes close to the stumps and gets him a single behind the stumps.

The run rate is creeping up all the time as Faulkner gives away just singles in his first five balls before the pressure pays off.

Yuvraj is beaten by the slower ball as he lobs it on the off-side where Watson takes a good catch on the edge of the circle.

The injury handicapped Yuvraj big time as he made 21 from 18 balls and was never really able to get going.

The required rate is over 11 now with India needing 67 from six overs for victory.

- India 80-3 (12 ovs) vs Aus 160-6 | SCORECARD

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa is introduced into the attack. Yuvraj is beaten off the first delivery as wicketkeeper Peter Nevill appeals for a stumping. He took the bails off just as Yuvraj's feet was back on the ground after he had lifted it a bit.

A good start from the young Zampa, giving away just three runs in his first over.

Australia content to bowl their spinners in tandem, hoping to keep the pacers for the end.

Kohli is aware of Australia's tactics as he jumps down the track to Maxwell and despite not getting to the pitch of the ball, goes through with the shot as he gets it over long-off for a six. He turns the next ball on the leg side and forces the struggling Yuvraj to come back for a second run, who does well to make his crease.

It turns out to be a productive over for India as Maxwell concedes 12 in his second over, with India reaching 80 for three in 12 overs, with another 81 needed from eight overs for victory.

- India 65-3 (10 ovs) vs Aus 160-6 | SCORECARD

Just one over for Faulkner before Coulter-Nile comes back. He gets Yuvraj to drive at a wide one, getting the edge but it goes wide of the fielder at first slip for a four. The next ball strikes him on the hips before Yuvraj twists his ankle as he goes for the run and looks in a lot of pain forcing the physio to come out.

Yuvraj is hobbling as he takes singles as India's momentum has dipped after Watson's double strike.

Part-time Glenn Maxwell comes into the attack. He makes a tidy start, giving away six runs as India reach 65 for three in 10 overs at the halfway stage, needing 96 runs from 10 overs for victory.

- India 50-3 (8 ovs) vs Aus 160-6 | SCORECARD

Left-arm pacer James Faulkner comes into the attack in place of Hazlewood, who bowled three overs for 26 runs with the new ball.

Suresh Raina gets off the mark with two runs on the leg side before he uppishly cover drives a full delivery from Faulkner through the covers for a four and keeps strike with a single from the last ball.

Watson strikes again in his next over, with the wicket of Raina, who looks to pull a short ball but gloves it to wicketkeeper to be dismissed for 10.

Yuvraj Singh gets off the mark with a single to bring up India's 50, in the eighth over.

India in a spot of bother at 50 for three in eight overs, needing another 111 runs in 12 overs for victory.

- India 37-2 (6 ovs) vs Aus 160-6 | SCORECARD

India's batting sensation Virat Kohli brings the Mohali crowd alive after that early wicket of Dhawan with back to back fours off Hazlewood. He gets off the mark with a flicked four off an overpitched delivery on the leg stump before driving a wide delivery square on the off-side followed by a single as 10 come from the fifth over.

The retiring Shane Watson comes into the attack. Will this be his last international appearance or will he get a couple more games?

Watson strikes in his very first over with the wicket of Rohit, who is bowled for 12.

The right-hander came down the track but was beaten all ends up by a slower ball as India are reduced to 37 for two in six overs. At the same stage, Australia were 59 for one in six overs.

India need another 124 from 14 overs for victory at an asking rate of 8.85.

- India 24-1 (4 ovs) vs Aus 160-6 | SCORECARD

Hazlewood starts the second over with a leg side to Dhawan, who then lofts the second ball over the square leg fence for a six.

The left-hander shows good common sense to pick a single after that six to keep the scoreboard ticking and Rohit also does the same off the next delivery  as nine runs come from the third over.

Australia's pacer not getting anything from the pitch. Coulter-Nile bowls a short ball as Rohit pulls it powerfully through midwicket for a four. He repeats the shot off the next ball but gets it off the bottom for a single to deep midwicket.

Dhawan looks to pull a short ball but is beaten by the slower ball and is struck on his body.

Two balls later, Dhawan again goes for the pull shot but gets a top edge and is caught at short fine leg for 13. Once again the left-hander has failed to carry on after getting off to a start. His scores in the last three games read: 1, 6 and 23.

A single to Rohit off the last ball takes the total to 24 for one in four overs.

- India 9-0 (2 ovs) vs Aus 160-6 | SCORECARD

Rohit Sharma faces the first ball from Josh Hazlewood, which he tucks on the leg side for one.

The second ball is in the slot which Shikhar Dhawan crashes through the covers for a four to get off the mark in some style.

He punches the third ball confidently straight down the ground but can't beat mid-on before he taps the next on the off-side and takes a quick single.

Rohit keeps the strike with a single from the last ball to thirdman as seven runs come from the first over.

Nathan-Coulter Nile to bowl the second over. Rohit defends the first three balls before taking one from the fourth and Dhawan gets one from the next as just two runs come from the second over.

India content to take it steady in the opening overs as they reach nine for no loss in two overs.

- Aus 160-6 (20 ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Aaron Finch smashed a quickfire 43 before India's bowlers staged a good comeback to restrict Australia to 160 for six in their 20 overs in Mohali, on Sunday.

Electing to bat, Australia got off to a flying start, racing past the 50-run mark in the fourth over before India's bowlers managed to pull them back with regular wickets.

Hardik Pandya was India's top wicket taker as he claimed two for 36 in his four overs.

- Aus 160-6 (20 ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

The experienced Nehra, who has one over left, is back. Even he manages to keep it tight with good mix of pace. Three singles from the first three balls before Nehra manages to bowl dot balls to Faulkner, who attempts the paddle scoop but fails to make connection before taking one from the last ball.

Nehra gives away just four in his final over to finish with superb figures of one for 20 in four overs.

Faulkner gets the much-needed boundary as he steers a wide short ball from Bumrah through the vacant thirdman region. Two balls later, Watson was unable to take advantage of a full toss and picks just one to deep midwicket.

Another full toss is driven to long-on as Kohli swoops in quickly to keep it down to just a single.

Excellent over from Bumrah, who gives away eight in his final over to finish with one for 32 in his four overs after had had given away 17 in his first over as Khawaja hit him for four boundaries.

Pandya to bowl the final over of the innings. Faulkner goes after the first ball but hits it straight into the hands of Kohli at long-off to fall for 10.

Watson is beaten off the next ball as Pandya gets it to move away. Watson edges the next ball and it goes fine on the off-side for a four before a single to long-off to bring up Australia's 150.

Peter Neville walk across his stumps and flicks it over the wicketkeeper for a four to get off the mark. He smashes the last ball for a six to end the innings in style as Australia end with a healthy 160 for six in their 20 overs.

- Aus 132-5 (17 ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Jadeja comes back, replacing Yuvraj, who bowled a good spell of one for 19 in three overs.

Maxwell is struggling to get going as a leading edge falls safely on the off side for one and Watson picks one from the next on the leg side.

Maxwell smashes it straight back down the pitch but the ball strikes the stumps at the non-striker's end, giving him just a single.

Maxwell finally gets the boundary as he sweeps Jadeja uppishly over short fine leg for a four, his first from the 25th ball he faced.

He switch hits the next ball and it carries all the way over the cover boundary for a six as Australia manage to break the shackles.

Jadeja went for 15 runs in his third over as Australia reach 129 for four in 16 overs with Maxwell looking dangerous on 31 from 26 balls and Watson on seven from six balls.

India's death overs specialist Bumrah comes back, to bowl the 17th over. Watson drives a yorker down the ground for one before Maxwell attempts the reverse sweep but is foxed by a slower ball.

He makes room and has a wild swing but misses and is bowled. Maxwell made room and tried to play the inside out lofted shot but the change of pace deceived him completely as the ball clipped the off-stump bail.

Maxwell, who made 31 from 28 balls, was starting to looking dangerous as Bumrah struck at the right time for the Indians.

James Faulkner gets a yorker first up which he defends on the leg side for one and Watson retains strike with a single from the last ball as Bumrah gives away just three runs in his third over.

- Aus 114-4 (15 ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Dhoni will continue with Yuvraj despite having got done with the fifth bowler's quota of four overs.

Yuvraj starts with a leg side wide to Maxwell, who flicks the second ball square on the leg side for two runs. Just a single from the last four balls as Yuvraj sends down another good over, conceding just four runs.

Dhoni being a bit greedy here as he decides to persist with the medium pace of Pandya despite not needed to do so.

Pandya attempts a short ball to Shane Watson who pulls it confidently through square leg for a four to get off the mark.

Maxwell must be desperate to get a boundary, he still has no boundary after facing 21 balls. He goes for a big hit down the ground but hasn't timed it too well as it goes on the bounce to long-off.

Maxwell is on 19 from 22 balls with Australia reach 114 for four in 15 overs.

They will need a blazing finishing in the last five overs if they are to cross the 160-run mark.

- Aus 100-4 (13 ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

All-rounder Hardik Pandya comes into the attack. Maxwell tries the ramp shot off the first ball but is beaten and is lucky not to have edged it. The next ball comes in sharply and stays a bit low as Maxwell, who is again trying the ramp shot, but is beaten and survives a LBW appeal.

Maxwell mishits it on the leg side as Raina at deep square leg sends a wild throw to give away two runs. Two singles from the last two balls as Pandya makes a tidy start, with just four coming from his first over.

Maxwell sweeps Yuvraj for two runs to deep square leg before the lots the third ball straight back over the bowlers' head. Raina does well at long-off to save a certain boundary and keep it down to two.

The boundaries have dried up for the Aussies with the last four being hit in the eighth over.

Yuvraj gives away eight runs in his second over as Australia reach 93 for three in 12 overs.

Pandya doing well with the ball as Finch has a wild swing to an incoming delivery but is beaten.

India have managed to get the momentum back with Australia's batsmen struggling to get the boundaries.

Finch heaves Pandya on the leg side as Kohli at long-on fumbles and Maxwell calls his partner for a second run.

Pandya attempts a short ball to Finch, who goes for the pull shot but fails to make connection.

The next ball is again short but this time Finch pulls it convincingly through square leg for a six to bring up Australia's 100, in the 13th over.

But Pandya gets revenge with the very next delivery as Finch has a wild swing but holes out to Dhawan at deep midwicket.

Finch played a good innings of 43 from 34 balls but was frustrated in the last few overs as the boundaries dried up.

Good bowling from the Indians in the middle overs with Australia reduced to 100 for four in 13 overs, scoring at 7.6 per over.

Pandya and Yuvraj have both claimed a wicket each for combined figures of two for 26 in four overs.

- Aus 81-3 (10 ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Jadeja maintaining the pressure from his end giving away just one run his second over. He bowls three dot balls to Steven Smith, who picks a single and Finch defends the last two deliveries of the over.

India have made a good comeback, giving away just 21 runs in the last five overs.

Yuvraj Singh strikes with his very first delivery of the tournament. He gets one to bounce extra as Smith gets the edge and Dhoni takes a sharp catch.

Smith is dismissed for two as Australia slip to 74 for three in the 10th over. The The Australian captain is clearly unhappy as he walks back shaking in head in disappointment with the umpire's ruling.

Yuvraj oversteps as he gives away a free hit and facing him is new batsman Glenn Maxwell, who is unable to get it away.

A good first over from Yuvraj, giving away seven runs while picking up the key wicket of Smith.

Australia were 55 for one in five overs, but India have made a good comeback, giving away just 26 runs in the next five overs while picking up two wickets.

Australia are still on course for a huge total as they reach 81 for three in 10 overs with Finch batting well on 34 from 26 balls, having hit two fours and two sixes.

- Aus 73-2 (8 ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

A break for Nehra, who bowled a good spell of one for 16 in three overs. He is replaced by left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who has to put in a good showing with the ball after Ashwin was taken to the cleaners in his first over.

Jadeja makes a tidy start, giving away just five runs in his first over.

Ashwin, who was hammered for 22 runs in his first over, comes back. He starts with a leg side wide to Finch, who hits the next ball to midwicket for one and Warner picks one on the leg side.

Ashwin from round the wicket drops short as Finch rocks back and slaps a short delivery through the covers for a four.

A big relief for Ashwin as he strikes with the wicket of Warner, who comes down the track but is beaten as Dhoni completes an easy stumping.

Warner walks back for six as Australia are reduced to 72 for two in the eighth over.

- Aus 59-1 (6 ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Bumrah bowls a quick delivery to Warner, who is struck on the pads but gets a leg bye.

Finch plays a cracking drive through the off-side but can't find the gap and does the same with the next time, this time to mid-off.

India's pacers bowling well as the hosts attempt to pull back Australia after that sensational start.

Bumrah goes for four runs in his second over as Australia reach 59 for one in six overs, making most of the field restriction in the Powerplay.

- Aus 55-1 (5 ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Finch gets a leading edge off Nehra but the ball falls safely on the leg side. However, Nehra strikes off the next ball as Khawaja gets an edge and is caught by wicketkeeper Dhoni after a quickfire 26 from 16 balls.

David Warner punches the first ball to the covers before he takes one from the next, to mid-off.

Nehra ends the over with two dot balls to Finch. An excellent over from the experienced pacer, conceding just two runs while making the breakthrough as Australia are reduced to 55 for one in five overs.

- Aus 53-0 (4 ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Finch looking to disrupt the bowlers rhythm as he gives Nehra the charge but is beaten. However, he gets the next ball of the middle, driving it through the off-side for his first boundary. He inside edges the next ball, which keeps a bit low, as wicketkeeper Dhoni is unable to stop it cleanly to give away a run.

Khawaja on the charge as he gives Nehra the charge and flicks him past short fine leg for his sixth boundary, to race to 24 from 12 balls, with all his runs coming in boundaries.

A single from the last ball makes it another good over for Australia as 10 runs come from the third over of the innings.

With Bumrah going for runs in his first over, he makes way for off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Khawaja turns the first ball to deep square for a single. Two balls later, Finch comes down the track and lofts Ashwin over the fielder at long-on for a six. He repeats the shot off the next ball and this time just about manages to clear Pandya on the fence at long-on for back to back sixes.

Ashwin bowls a rank poor delivery as he slips a wide down the leg side which Dhoni fails to collect to give away five wides. The next ball is again a wide as Australia race to their 50 from just 3.4 overs.

Finch clips the fifth ball to deep midwicket and comes back for two runs and takes a single from the last ball as Australia race to 53 for no loss after four overs.

A horror start for Ashwin, who has been hit for 22 runs in his first over with India's bowlers coming under the hammer in Mohali right at the start.

Khawaja has raced to 26 from 15 balls, while Finch has hit 21 from nine balls.

- Aus 21-0 (2 ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Veteran Ashish Nehra to open the bowling for India as a packed I S Bindra stadium roars as soon as he takes the new ball from the umpire.

Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch are the two openers for Australia, who will be looking for a good start on a pitch expected to get slower.

The first ball is short as Khawaja pulls it square on the leg side for a four to get the innings off the mark in smashing fashion.

Nehra makes a good comeback, a full delivery moving away as the left-hander has a poke but is beaten. The third ball is even better as Nehra extracts more movement and once again Khawaja plays and misses and is lucky not to have edged it.

Khawaja manages to get some bat on the fourth ball but can't beat the fielder at point before Nehra produces another couple of unplayable deliveries to end a superb first over.

Except for that first ball which was hit for a four, Nehra was top notch in that opening over.

Pace from both ends as Jasprit Bumrah comes into the attack from the other end. Aaron Finch comes down the track to the first ball and sneaks a quick single to mid-on.

Khawaja then picks a length ball over midwicket for his second boundary and repeats the shot off the next delivery for another four, this time through mid-on, to underline his attacking intent from the very beginning.

Bumrah switches to round the wicket but no stopping Khawaja as he pulls another slightly short ball, past short fine leg to make it a hat-trick of fours.

Two fielders sent back in the deep on the leg side as left-hander Khawaja drives the fifth ball on the off-side but can't find the gap.

He steers the last ball through the vacant thirdman region for the fourth boundary of the over, which goes for 17 runs.

Khawaja has raced to 20 from 11 balls, hitting five boundaries, as Australia race to 21 for no loss in two overs.

* Deferred updates in compliance with Indian laws

- SCORECARD

Check out how the two teams line-up for this do-or-die match:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah.

Australia: Steven Smith (captain), Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch, David Warner,  Glenn Maxwell, Shane Watson, James Faulkner, Peter Nevill(w), Adam Zampa, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Josh Hazlewood.

Australia captain Steven Smith has won the toss and elected to bat against India in Mohali.

"We will bat. It looks dry underneath and could slow up later. We will look to put up a score," Smith said at the toss.

Both the teams are unchanged from their previous match.

India captain Dhoni claims even they were looking to bat first. "We were also looking to bat first, the pitch may slow down later on."

Former Australia pacer Mitchell Johnson turned the heat on Kohli saying the Indian batting superstar "went missing" during last year's 50-overs World Cup semi-final loss to the Aussies.

Johnson questioned whether Kohli could stand the heat when the pressure was on after reading Kohli's words on Twitter.

"Love it!! Went missing in WC semi last yr when it really counts," Johnson tweeted.

Chasing Australia's imposing 7-328 at the SCG in the World Cup semi-final, Kohli was dismissed by Johnson for one.

However, Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson, who played with Johnson in the World Cup -semi-final said that it isnt easy to unsettle Kohli.

"Weve tried a few different things," Watson said. "It hasn't really worked.

India's batting mainstay Virat Kohli suggested Australia will make the grave mistake of adding 'fuel to fire' if they needle him in Sunday's win-or-bust World Twenty20 contest but asserted he is good enough to excel without provocations.

A self-admitted admirer, as well as practitioner, of Australia's passionate, aggressive brand of cricket, it is almost inevitable that the 27-year-old has featured in several on-field spats with them.

With a place in the semi-finals at stake, sparks may fly again in Sunday's mouth-watering contest between inaugural T20 champions India and reigning 50-over world champions Australia.

"I've always said that I sort of thrive on those situations," Kohli told reporters on Friday. "But you just can't go in with that sort of mindset only. You need to be versatile..."

"If I get into a debate with anyone, if I have to take a certain stance, that doesn't necessarily put me off my game. If anything, that motivates me more," said India's Test captain.

"It doesn't mean if I don't get into a debate with someone, I won't be motivated to win the game for my team.

"It's better to plan your innings without that situation and if that situation comes in, you have to take in as more fuel to the fire."

If you have just tuned into the cricket, the big news of the day is that minnows Afghanistan have stunned former champions West Indies by six runs in their final group match.

Chasing a modest 124 to win, West Indies, who had rested Chris Gayle, struggled throughout the chase, managing just 117 for eight.

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Welcome to the coverage of the high-profile ICC World T20 match between India and Australia with both teams needing a victory to progress through to the semi-finals, in Mohali, on Sunday.

India, who edged past Bangladesh by one run, will have to lift their game by several notches against an improving Australia.

India, who were the overwhelming favourites going into the tournament, have been far from convincing in the three games they have played so far.

The inaugural edition champions began their campaign with a 47-run crushing defeat against New Zealand before bouncing back with a six-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan.

But the home side would have found themselves in a precarious situation if it was not for a self destructive Bangladesh and a brilliant sprint stumping from captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the previous game which they won by a mere one run.

Australia, on the other hand, have been improving with every game and a convincing win against Pakistan in a must-win match, in Mohali, on Friday, have prepared them well for another knock-out battle.

India, however, will take confidence from the fact that they blanked Australia in Australia in the three-match series in January even though they played against a different squad then.