Run chases; nobody does them better than Virat Kohli, whose 82 off 61 balls led India to a six-wicket win over Australia which took them into the semi-finals of the World T20.
India needed 39 off the final three overs to win, but the game swung in their favour when Kohli hit Nathan Coulter-Nile for four boundaries in the penultimate over. It was not slogging, but supreme stroke play from the adored number three, such as this drive over extra cover.
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Given the time and place, and the pressure on the player, this was the innings of the tournament so far. The rest of India’s top five left Kohli with a lot to do, but the majestic batsman barely put a foot wrong to help the hosts chase down their target of 161 with five balls to spare.
Captain MS Dhoni finished the job off, hitting the winning runs off the first ball of the final over, but the raucous home crowd in Mohali bowed down to Kohli at the end, and deservedly so.
Shane Watson starred for Australia with two wickets and a fantastic catch, but exits the international game on a defeat as India advance to face Group 1 winners West Indies in the semi-final.
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