Australia book World Cup final spot with 95-run win over India

Australia will play New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup final after beating India by 95 runs in the second semi-final in Sydney.

Steve Smith scored 105 from 93 balls – passing fifty for the fourth consecutive World Cup game – as Australia set India a tough target of 329.

It could have been tougher though as Australia lost their way with three wickets falling for only 16 runs across 30 balls just as they were looking to accelerate in the final 10 overs.

But a Mitchell Johnson cameo of 27 from nine balls helped fire Australia to 328-7, before he then took 2-50 in India’s reply in typically fired-up fashion.

MS Dhoni’s run-a-ball 65 and handy contributions from Shikhar Dhawan (45 off 41 balls) and Ajinkya Rahane (44) gave faint hope of an India win but Australia had too much for them in the field, with two run outs – one accounting for Dhoni – helping book Australia’s place in Sunday’s final in Melbourne.

Australia won the toss and chose to bat first in front of a packed crowd at the SCG but lost David Warner (12) early on to Umesh Yadav (4-72).

Aaron Finch (81) – who had struggled since his 135 in the first game of tournament against England – was scratchy again at the start of his innings but the fluent form of Smith at the other end helped him find his feet and the pair put on a 182-run partnership for the second wicket.

It was Smith who fell first in the 34th over, shortly after bringing up his fourth ODI ton – failing to control a Yadav bouncer and sending a top edge to Rohit Sharma at square leg.

But with a solid platform built, Australia sent in Glenn Maxwell (23 off 14 balls) above their captain Michael Clarke, but his wicket to Ravichandran Ashwin (1-42) opened the door for India.

It brought about a mini-collapse as Finch and Clarke (10) also fell to short balls from Yadav and Mohit Sharma (2-75) respectively but Shane Watson (28 off 30 balls) and James Faulkner (21 off 12) counter-attacked – adding 36 together – before the latter was bowled by Yadav, becoming his fourth victim.

With the score on 298 and with a little more than two overs to go, Watson fell to a Sharma slower ball – top-edging it to Ajinkya Rahane at fine leg – but Johnson came in and smashed four fours and a six to fire Australia to their final total after 50 overs.

India were circumspect to start with in response – both Sharma and Dhawan looking to negotiate the new ball threat from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

An early edge from Sharma off Starc was deemed to fall just short of Shane Watson at slip by the third umpire and Dhawan was dropped by Brad Haddin behind the stumps on five off Hazlewood.

That reprieve looked to be costly as Dhawan smoked 16 from James Faulkner’s first over to get the India innings going and he hit a further two boundaries off Faulkner’s second, only to fall to Hazlewood (1-41) an over later, picking out Maxwell at deep cover.

Virat Kohli was a shadow of his usual flamboyant self, scoring just one from 13 balls as he became Johnson’s first victim, top-edging him to Haddin while attempting a big shot over leg, and a pumped-up Johnson then bowled Sharma (34) through the gate in his very next over.

Suresh Raina fell tamely for seven – edging Faulkner to Haddin when trying to run one down to third man – to leave India 108-4 after 23 overs.

And although Dhoni rebuilt the innings with Rahane with the pair adding 70 tohether, the required run-rate was always creeping up.

Rahane fell, getting the faintest of edges to Haddin off Starc which was given on referral before direct hits in the field from Smith and then Maxwell to account for Ravindra Jadeja (16) and Dhoni all but ended the contest.

Faulkner (3-59) bowled Ashwin and Sharma in consecutive balls to be on a hat-trick, but it was Starc who picked up the final wicket as India fell to 223 all out and Australia confirmed their World Cup final spot.

Watch highlights of Australia’s semi-final win over India on Sky Sports World from 1pm, 4pm, 7pm and 9.30pm with The Verdict following each show. Highlights of the match are also available in Hindi over on Zee Cinema.