Australia scored 264 runs in the first ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against India due to significant half-centuries by Steve Smith and Alex Carey. The match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium was full of dramatic moments, one of them being a weird incident when the ball struck the stumps but did not remove the bails, giving a reprieve to Steve Smith.

Smith’s Lifeline as Bails Stay Put

Australia, after winning the toss, decided to bat first. The opening combination of Travis Head and Cooper Connolly began carefully, but India got the better of them when Mohammed Shami sent Connolly back to the pavilion without scoring. In five overs later, mystery bowler Varun Chakravarthy brought a breakthrough with the wicket of Head for 39.

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But the turning point of the innings was in the 14th over when Axar Patel struck the inside edge of Steve Smith’s bat. The ball struck the base of the off-stump but, by luck for Smith, did not dislodge the bails. Rohit Sharma and the Indian team could be seen getting frustrated as Smith escaped to steady Australia’s innings.

Here’s how the internet reacted:

Australia’s Batting Performance

Indian bowlers kept the pressure on consistently, but Smith (73 from 96) was the key, forming three vital partnerships of 52 runs with Head, 56 with Marnus Labuschagne, and 54 with Carey. Carey, who scored the top score of 61 from 57 balls, helped Australia reach the 250-run mark despite losing wickets at regular intervals.

Labuschagne (29) was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja, and Josh Inglis (17) was taken at short cover off Jadeja’s bowling. Glenn Maxwell, who was supposed to unleash himself in the death overs, played a loose shot off Axar Patel and got bowled at a critical moment.

India’s Comeback with the Ball

At one point, Australia were poised to reach a 300-plus score, but India’s tight bowling kept them from speeding up in the last overs. Shami got rid of Smith with a full toss that thudded into the stumps, ending his nicely laid-out innings. Carey, for all his fighting effort, was run out trying a speculative second run, courtesy of Shreyas Iyer’s accurate direct hit.

Ben Dwarshuis added a useful 34-run partnership with Carey before Australia was dismissed for 264. Jadeja (2/40) and Axar Patel (1/42) kept things in order during the middle overs, while Shami and Chakravarthy gave timely breaches.

India in Comfortable Position for Chase

With a score of 265 to chase, India will support themselves to run it down, considering the solid batting unit of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill. Though the Dubai pitch has played favorably, pressure of a semi-final might complicate the run chase.

India’s disciplined bowling display has made it a point not to be running after an overpowering total. Australia’s attack, spearheaded by Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, will then try to establish early inroads. The second innings will see a thrilling competition as India pushes for a final spot in the Champions Trophy.