New Delhi, Aug. 10 -- DUBAI - Three hours before Virat Kohli walked off the field at Dubai International Cricket Stadium with 84 runs next to his name, Mohammed Shami had done something the scoreboard could not fully show. Australia, having constructed their innings around Steve Smith's patient 73, were all out for 264 in the 49th over, eight deliveries short of a completed fifty. Shami's figures of 3 for 48 were not the most spectacular of the tournament. They were, however, the arithmetic that governed India's evening.

India needed 265. They reached 267 for 6 in 48.1 overs. Kohli's innings was the reason, though not the only one.

Smith's 73 from 96 balls had carried more than its statistical weight in Australia's middle order. He occu...