India Stuns Australia in Champions Trophy Semi-Final: Shami's Blistering Spell Seals Victory

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The stage was set for a thrilling encounter as India took on Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final, and it was Mohammed Shami who stole the show with a blistering spell that left the Aussies reeling. The Indian seamer, known for his clinical record in ICC ODI knockout matches, lived up to his title of 'Mr ICC' and took another step towards extending his era of dominance in the ODI marquee events. Shami's **scorching spell** rocked Australia, forcing them to bundle out on 264, and setting the stage for a thrilling Indian chase.

Shami's impressive outing saw him return with figures of 3/48, taking his tally to 13 scalps in five ICC ODI knockout matches at a staggering average of 19.76. He became the third-highest wicket-taker for India, surpassing Harbhajan Singh and now sitting behind Sachin Tendulkar for a big ICC record. The Indian seamer drew the first blood by dismissing youngster Cooper Connolly for a nine-ball duck, and then maintained his sublime form against Australia captain Steve Smith, cleaning up his stumps on 73(96). Shami capped off his impressive spell with Nathan Ellis's scalp, **dismissing Smith for the fifth time in ODIs** and splitting 123 runs at an average of 24.60.

Besides Shami, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy (2/49) and left-armer Ravindra Jadeja (2/40) also trapped Australian batters in their spin web, while Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya chipped in with a wicket each. The Australian innings was propelled by Alex Carey's impressive knock of 61, laced with eight fours and a towering maximum. However, it was not enough to stop the Indian juggernaut, as they chased down the target with 11 balls remaining, winning by 4 wickets. The **key moments** of the match included:

• Shami's dismissal of Cooper Connolly for a nine-ball duck
• Shami's dismissal of Steve Smith for 73(96)
• Varun Chakravarthy's impressive spell of 2/49
• Ravindra Jadeja's economical spell of 2/40

The win sets up a thrilling final encounter, and India will be looking to ride the momentum and claim the Champions Trophy title.

Some of the **game-changing statistics** from the match include:

• Mohammed Shami's 13 scalps in five ICC ODI knockout matches at an average of 19.76
• Shami's 3/48 figures in the semi-final encounter
• Alex Carey's 61-run knock, laced with eight fours and a towering maximum
• Varun Chakravarthy's 2/49 figures in the match

The match was a testament to the excitement and drama of the Champions Trophy, and fans will be eagerly waiting for the final encounter. With Shami in top form, India will be looking to **seal the deal** and claim the title.

In terms of **historical context**, Shami's performance puts him in an elite group of Indian bowlers who have dominated in ICC ODI knockout matches. He is now behind only Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan in the list of highest wicket-takers for India in ICC ODI knockout games. The **player statistics** from the match include:

• Mohammed Shami: 3/48 figures, 13 scalps in five ICC ODI knockout matches
• Alex Carey: 61-run knock, eight fours, one maximum
• Varun Chakravarthy: 2/49 figures
• Ravindra Jadeja: 2/40 figures

The match was a thrilling encounter that had fans on the edge of their seats, and the final encounter promises to be just as exciting. With the **key matchups** to watch out for, including Shami vs Smith, and the Indian spinners vs the Australian batters, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the Champions Trophy.

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