Yuvraj earns Dhoni praise as India stay unbeaten

Yuvraj Singh roared back to form with a fighting fifty and Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed four for 11 as India hammered listless Australia by 73 runs in the World Twenty20 on Sunday.

DHAKA // Yuvraj Singh roared back to form with a fighting fifty and Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed four for 11 as India hammered listless Australia by 73 runs in the ICC World Twenty20 on Sunday.

Yuvraj hit 60 off 43 balls to steer India to 159 for seven after they were sent in to bat, before Australia collapsed in spectacular fashion to be bowled out for a paltry 86 in 16.2 overs.

India, who had already qualified for the semi-finals, topped group two of the Super-10s with four successive wins. They will meet the No 2 team from the other group next Friday for a place in the final.

It was Australia’s third loss in a row, leaving them at the bottom of the table along with Bangladesh.

Pakistan, who beat Bangladesh by 50 runs earlier on Sunday, will clash with the West Indies on Tuesday to decide the second semi-finalist from the group.

South Africa have made it to the knock-out round from Group 1, while Sri Lanka will face New Zealand in Chittagong today to determine the other semi-finalists.

MS Dhoni, the India captain, said he was not surprised at the ease with which Yuvraj batted after a poor run earlier in the tournament.

“We all know what kind of a player Yuvi is and this T20 format is ideal for someone to get back into form,” Dhoni said. “He gave himself time to get set at the start and then he opened out.

“There was no dew at all, which helped the bowlers grip the ball well. It was a really good effort in the field. We now need a good rest before the semi-final.”

India, whose previous three wins came while batting second, were given first strike by Australian captain George Bailey and found themselves in immediate trouble.

India’s top order faltered after opener Rohit Sharma fell to part-timer Brad Hodge off the fourth ball of the innings and slipped to 66 for four by the 12th over.

Left-handed Yuvraj, who made one and 10 in the two innings he got to bat in the tournament, launched a spectacular counter-attack that included five boundaries and four sixes. Dhoni made 24 during a fifth-wicket stand of 84 off 42 balls with Yuvraj before he was bowled by Mitchell Starc in the penultimate over.

Australia’s batting caved in under lights at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium with Glenn Maxwell emerging the top scorer with 23.

Eight batsmen failed to reach double figures against India’s spin attack in which leg-spinner Amit Mishra supported Ashwin with two wickets for 13 runs.

Bailey said he was disappointed at the way this tournament was going for his Australia team.

“I don’t think we have been fans of the way we have been playing,” he said. “There was a lack of game sense on a number of occasions. I just hope we can play well against the hosts on Tuesday.”

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