IND-C vs AUS-C WCL 2024: Dan Christian powers Australia to semi-finals with big win over India

Ambati Rayudu smashes three consecutive fours to entertain Indian fans and Yusuf Pathan throws away his wicket while attempting a big shot off Peter Siddle in the last over.

Yusuf Pathan top-scored with 78 runs off 48 balls and Ambati Rayudu smashed 26* off 17 balls. 

AUSC - 199/5 in 20 overs.

INDC - 176/6 in 20 overs.

Australia win by 23 runs.

Australia also storm into the semifinals with three wins in four games.

India stay in the third place in the points table with two wins and two defeats and will be facing South Africa in their last must-win game on July 10.

Skipper Brett Lee bowls a sensational penultimate over by conceding just 7 runs and ending India's all hopes.

INDC - 159/5 in 19 overs.

India need 41 runs in 6 balls to win the game.

Yusuf Pathan smashes Brett Lee for 18 runs in an over to keep India alive in a tough chase. But Australia make a strong comeback with Laughlin bowling a greedy spell. It's Australia in a dominant position now. 

INDC - 152/5 in 18 overs.

India Champions need 48 runs off 12 balls to win the game.

Yusuf Pathan raises India's hopes going into the death overs and also brings his fifty with a six and four to finish the over.

INDC - 127/5 in 15 overs.

India Champions need 73 runs in 24 balls to win the game. 

Pawan Negi tried to ease up the pressure with a big shot over the long-on but finds the safe hands of Dan Cristian. It's wicket no.5 for India as Australia further take control of the game.

IND-C - 102/5 in 14 overs.

India Champions need 88 runs in 36 balls to win the game. 

A big moment in the game as Dan Cristian removed settled Indian skipper Yuvraj Singh and put Australia in driving seat. 

Yuvraj Singh scored 19 runs off 18 balls. Pawan Negi joins Yusuf Pathan in the middle.

IND-C - 88/4 in 11.4 overs.

India need 113 runs in 50 balls to win the game.

The half stage of the run chase is done. India are in trouble with only 70 on the board with 3 wickets down. Ambati Rayudu has not come out to bat as we suspect he has some issue. He was hit on the shoulder while fielding. India need 129 more to win now

The powerplay is done and India have been pushed on the back foot. Three wickets are down for 46 after the first six overs. Yusuf Pathan is the Impact player in for Shaun Marsh. He is in the middle with captain Yuvraj Singh and India need to dig in deep to chase this.

A double blow for India. Nathan Coulter-Nile comes and gets Robin Uthappa on his first ball. This was skied up by the Indian opener and Brett Lee takes an easy one at covers. Both openers back, India at 34/2 at 4.1

Peter Siddle strikes to get the first wicket. He removes Irfan Pathan, who came to open today. What a catch from Nathan Coulter-Nile! He runs back from mid-off and takes a brilliant catch. Raina is now in

The run-chase is on. India Champions need 200 to win. They would need a strong start to chase this down

Australia Champions have ended in a strong way and have scored 199/5 in their 20 overs. This is a good score.

Dan Christian and Ben Cutting are giving a hard pill to swallow to the Indian bowlers. Cutting takes down Anureet for three sixes in a 20-run over before Christian punishes RP Singh for four maximums in a 29-run over. Christian is dismissed as Harbhajan takes another sharp catch, this time at covers. Australia 193/5 after 19.2

We are into the final three overs now. Australia Champions are at 137/4 with Ben Cutting and Dan Christian in the middle. India have two overs of Anureet and one of RP Singh. Expect these two to ball the remainder of the overs

RP Singh gets his first of the day. He has removed Callum Ferguson as Harbhajan takes a sharp catch at short fine-leg. The third umpire took a closer look at it but deemed it out. Australia 114/4 after 14.4.

The halfway stage of the innings is done. Australia Champion at 80/3 after 10. India Champions have pulled things back in these four overs. From 56/1 after 6, the Aussies have added 24 and lost two wickets in the next four. 

Harbhajan Singh strikes and removes the well-set Shaun Marsh for 41. A brilliant variation from Harbhajan. That spun in a bit. No fifty for the Aussie star. Dan Christian is the new batter in

Another wicket. A much-needed one to halt the momentum. Ben Dunk has been caught out at long-on. Dhawal Kulkarni gets his first. Australia 63/2 after 7.2

The powerplay is done and the Aussies might believe they are ahead at the moment despite losing Finch. Marsh is looking strong, driving and pulling to find boundaries at regular intervals. The Aussies are at 56/1 after 6 overs with Marsh at 35 and Dunk at 11.

And here's the first wicket. Anureet Singh gets Aaron Finch in the 4th over. That's a big one. What a brilliant inswinger targeting the top of off. Just what the coaches teach you. Pitched outside off on a good length and it jagged back in as Finch got beaten by the swing. Australia 22/1 after 3.1

A fine start for the Aussies. RP Singh and Anureet Singh began the charge with the new ball. Shaun Marsh took RP Singh for two fours in the opening over before Finch hitting one to Anureet. Australia Champions 15/0 after 2

The two Australian openers - Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch are out in the middle. The rain has gone away and the action is about to start.

Okay, we are getting the live visuals and the rain has stopped. The covers have just come off, including the center one. We might see the start soon.

Just as we were about to see the action, the rain has arrived. The covers are on and the players have gone back. Hope this is short break

Anthems time. Australia's Advance Australia Fair and then India's Jan Gan Man. We are moments away from the action now

Niall O'Brian with the pitch report. He says that this looks like a brilliant pitch and is rock-hard. There's a 10mm live grass on it and it should swing well. This ground has been one of the best in county cricket in the recent years as the pitch is very hard underneath the grass which shall provide for a good contest

This is the first match of the tournament in Northampton. The previous 10 matches of the tournament took place in Birmingham. The Edgbaston in Birmingham will now host only the final of the tournament.

Robin Uthappa(w), Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh(c), Irfan Pathan, Pawan Negi, Harbhajan Singh, Anureet Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni, RP Singh, Rahul Sharma

Shaun Marsh, Aaron Finch, Ben Dunk, Callum Ferguson, Ben Cutting, Daniel Christian, Tim Paine(w), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Laughlin, Brett Lee(c), Peter Siddle

Yuvraj Singh has won the toss and India Champions will be bowling first. Yuvraj says one change - Pawan Negi is in for Gurkeerat Mann. No changes for Australia, confirms captain Brett Lee.

There is a 48% chance of rain at 4 PM, the time for the toss. It is 38% at 5 PM. You got to watch out for the weather in Northampton 

India and Australia share an epic rivalry with each other. The 2003 World Cup final, the 2007 T20 World Cup semifinal, the CB series, the 2011 ODI World Cup Quarterfinal, the 2023 WTC final, the 2023 ODI WC final and the T20 World Cup Super 8 clash. These two have produced some fascinating and bitter-and-sweet games. Stay tuned for the legends of the two teams to have a crack at each other now.

India Champions are up against Australia Champions in their fourth match of the World Championship of Legends. With their loss against Pakistan Champions in the previous outing, the Indian team suffered its first defeat of the tournament. They would be eager to bounce back strong as the race for the semifinals is reaching its pointed peak. Stay tuned as I, Varun Malik, take you across this game