Steve Smith’s Stunning Luck Saves Wicket in ICC Semifinal

Dubai, UAE – Australia captain Steve Smith narrowly escaped a dismissal during the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy semifinal match against India at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Smith, who was batting in a critical phase of the match, received an extraordinary reprieve that allowed him to continue his innings and help lead his team forward.

In a dramatic moment during the 14th over of Australia’s innings, Smith faced Axar Patel’s delivery that was aimed for the stumps. Astonishingly, the ball grazed the stumps but failed to dislodge the bails, maintaining Smith’s wicket in a breathtaking turn of events. The scene drew sharp reactions from the Indian players, particularly from wicketkeeper KL Rahul and bowler Axar Patel, who displayed their evident disappointment.

“I thought it was all over for me,” Smith said after the match. “I was lucky enough to have the bails stay on.” His performance proved crucial as he showcased his skill against India’s spinners, further solidifying his reputation as one of Australia’s premier batsmen in challenging conditions.

Leading up to this moment, Australia lost an early wicket when Cooper Connolly was dismissed for just one run by Mohammed Shami. Smith then joined Travis Head, who also provided an aggressive start before being dismissed for 39 runs, caught off a delivery from Varun Chakravarthy. The Australian batting lineup faced pressure early, but Smith managed to stabilize the innings.

Smith completed his 35th ODI fifty, scoring 73 runs off 96 balls before ultimately being bowled by Shami. He reached his half-century after accumulating runs from both disciplined stroke play and fortunate mishaps. “Every run counts in a game like this, and I focused on building partnerships,” said Smith.

As the match progressed, India had another chance to dismiss Smith but failed to capitalize. In the 22nd over, Shami dropped a catch when Smith attempted a straight drive, allowing the Australian captain another stroke of fortune. Shami had previously missed another catch in the first over, which highlighted the pressure that the Indian bowling attack faced.

After Smith’s pivotal innings, he was supported by Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 29 runs before falling to Ravindra Jadeja, and then Josh Inglis, who had a brief stay at the crease. Eventually, with Smith’s focused inning concluding, Australia found themselves in a precarious position.