 "Rohit brings up fastest fifty of T20 World Cup 2024 after smashing Starc for 29 runs in 1 over")
Rohit Sharma was back with a bang on Monday, getting the Indian team off to an explosive start with a 19-ball half-century after Australia opted to field in their T20 World Cup Super 8 clash in St Lucia on Monday.
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Rohit had smashed 23 off 11 balls against Bangladesh on Saturday, collecting three fours and a six before getting dismissed off Shakib Al Hasan’s bowling while playing an attacking too many.
On Monday, the ‘Hitman’ went one better and went past the fifty-mark for the first time since India’s opening game against Ireland in New York. Smashing four fours and five sixes, Rohit ended up slamming the fastest half-century of the tournament so far.
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Rohit particularly targeted left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, who replaced left-arm spinner Ashton Agar in the Aussie XI, smashing him for 29 runs in the third over of the innings with four sixes along with a four and a wide.
Rohit started off with a six in each of the first two balls at the start of Starc’s second over, going inside out over extra cover off a full, wide delivery for the first maximum of the match followed by a similar shot off a similar delivery next ball.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsStarc targeted the line between middle and leg in the third delivery, and Rohit responded by smacking it over mid on, clearing the fielder inside the circle, for a four. That was followed by a 96-metre six over deep midwicket off a length ball from the left-arm pacer.
A dot and a wide followed before the India skipper concluded the over with a thick outside edge that carried the ball all the way over third man.
Rohit would then deposit the ball on the roof at the Daren Sammy Stadium with a monster 100-metre six at the start of the fifth over. After a brief rain interruption, he would collect a four off the Australian Test and ODI skipper after getting a thick outside edge towards third man before bringing up the milestone with a single.
Thanks to the Rohit-inspired carnage, India race to 60/1 at the end of the powerplay, setting the foundation for a big total. The Men in Blue would later bring up the team 100 in just 8.4 overs — the fastest in the history of the T20 World Cup.
The carnage in the third over helped India recover from a shaky start, with right-arm seamer Josh Hazlewood removing Virat Kohli for a five-ball duck to leave India in a spot of bother at 6/2 after two overs.
While India are nearly through to the semi-finals after their victories over Afghanistan and Bangladesh, Australia are fighting for survival following their stunning 21-loss against the Afghans in St Vincent on Saturday. Should they end up losing this game, they’ll need Bangladesh to defeat Afghanistan in the final Super 8 clash later on Monday for them to stay alive.
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