Australia v India Champions Trophy: Steve Smith says team did not bat well enough as Cooper Connolly fails

Australia were too often a wicket or two short, with bat and ball, said captain Steve Smith after the four-wicket Champions Trophy semifinal defeat to India in Dubai.

While always in the game Australia were never in command of it, losing wickets at key times in their own innings, and not taking them at those stages during India’s.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia posted 264 from 49.3 overs courtesy of important half-centuries from Steve Smith (73 off 96) and Alex Carey (61 off 57).

But the total wasn’t enough, with Kohli scoring 84 off 98 balls as India chased down the victory target with 11 deliveries to spare.

India will face either South Africa or New Zealand in Sunday’s final.

At 4-198 in the 37th over, Australia were on track for a score in excess of 300.

But the loss of Smith and Glenn Maxwell (7) in quick succession sparked a collapse of 6-66 as Australia fell away badly.

Australia’s gamble on Connolly as a replacement for injured opener Matt Short backfired, with the 21-year-old all at sea on the way to making a nine-ball duck.

Smith received a huge slice of luck on 23 when he edged the ball onto his pads and it rolled to hit his off-stump - only for the bails to stay on.

Then when Smith was on 36, Mohammed Shami dropped a tough one-handed return catch.

Smith made the most of the double reprieve, registering four fours and one six in his measured knock.

His exit in the 37th over prompted a big collapse as Australia’s hopes of posting a score in excess of 300 faded.

“We had our opportunities throughout to post something up above 300,” Smith said..

“We were probably just that one wicket down too many at a few stages throughout the innings.

“If we extended one of those partnerships a little bit we’re probably getting up 290 - 300 and we’re putting a bit of pressure on the scoreboard.

“On that surface (300) would have been a really good total. (They) have got to take a few more risks to get above the rate. With 264, they were able to absorb a few balls here and there.

“They kept their run rate in check throughout. We were probably just one or two wickets away. We took it as deep as we could, but they chased really nicely. (Virat Kohli) is arguably the best chaser the game has seen, he played really well again.”

Having won the toss Smith felt choosing to bat first was the right option but said it was “clearly not the easiest wicket to bat on.”

Smith would not be drawn into discussing the fact India, due to security issues playing in Pakistan, played their all their matches in Dubai while other teams flew to and from, and travelled around, Pakistan, but he did say the wicket favoured the opposition.

“It is what it is. India played some really good cricket here. The surface suits their style with the spinners that they’ve got and the seamers that they have at their disposal for a wicket like that.

“The wickets we played on (in Pakistan), they’re completely different tracks. This one’s quite slow, two-paced, took some spin. I think the Gaddafi track (at Lahore) is arguably one of the best one-day wickets in the world for batting. The ball skids on nicely, the outfield’s lightning. There’s definite differences.”

But, added Smith of India: “They played well, they outplayed us and they deserve the victory.”

Australia now turn their thoughts to the World Test Championship against South Africa at Lord’s in June, then a Test and T20 series in the West Indies, followed by the Ashes.

There are no ODIs scheduled and with the next ODI World Cup not until 2027, in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, no urgency to arrange them. But Smith said the experience gained by their second -string attack, Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson and, in Dubai, Tanveer Sangha, was a plus from the tournament.

“They’re going to be better for the exposure to a big event and playing against world-class players like the ones we came up against today and throughout the tournament. Plenty of positives to take from it.”