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Cricket World Cup 2015 Semifinal India v/s Australia: Australia beat India by 95 runs to make final

Australia have won convincingly. They batted extremely well to score 328 against an Indian attack that bowled reasonably well. Then Dhawan got going, but Australia turned the match around in about 13 overs through four wickets.

Reported By:Pranav Joshi| Edited By: Pranav Joshi |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Sep 29, 2017, 08:33 PM IST

Cricket World Cup 2015 Semifinal India v/s Australia: Australia beat India by 95 runs to make final

Australia have won convincingly. They batted extremely well to score 328 against an Indian attack that bowled reasonably well. Then Dhawan got going, but Australia turned the match around in about 13 overs through four wickets. India will rue some poor shots - Rohit, Raina, and some players out of form who went unnoticed in the juggernaut towards the semis - Kohli, Rahane. Really, after Raina was out it was about either a miracle innings or delaying the inevitable. New Zealand await Australia in Melbourne on Sunday, and it will not be easy for them on the huge Australian ground. It should be a brilliant match.

Steven Smith is the man of the match for his 105.

Over 47

OUT! BOWLED HIM, AND AUSTRALIA HAVE MADE THE WORLD CUP FINAL. Yorker on middle stump and Yadav's middle stump is dislodged. India lose by 95 runs, perhaps a little too heavily for most Indian fans. But Australia have just outplayed India today. 233 all out.

Great short ball, Yadav is hit on the face by a searing short ball, just under his ear, but the helmet partly protected him.

Over 46

OUT! Ninth down, Faulkner on a hattrick. Slower ball and Mohit Sharma is bowled.

OUT! Ashwin gives room, and Faulkner hits timber.

Two slower balls missed by Ashwin. Last rites being performed here. Can India get to 250?

Over 45

OUT! Dhoni is run out at the non-striker's end, and India's World Cup is over.

Over 44

Single off the last ball, 5 off the over. 228/6 after 44 overs.

Ashwin drives through the off side for one, 2 off 3 balls so far.

Over 43

Single off the last ball, India 223/6.

Crowd are chanting for Sachin. Really? 

Late cut to third man for one.

Full toss, slammed to midwicket for one.

SIX! Down the ground, smashed for six. There was no long off, it hit the hoarding. These blows are too late.

SIX! Dhoni goes down the track and lofts the ball over deep point for six. 

Over 42

Ashwin is the new batsman and he nearly gets an edge to the keeper. India 208/6.

OUT! Jadeja is run out and India are six down. Slow death at the SCG.

Over 41

FOUR. Short outside off and Jadeja cuts it for four. No run off the last ball, 204/5 after 41 overs.

Dhoni pulls and gets a single to long leg.

DROPPED. Dhoni came down the track, the ball was short, and Dhoni pulled it, got a top edge, but Clarke dropped it at short leg.

Over 40

Two singles to end the over, India 196/5 after 40 overs. 133 needed off 60.

No Indian batsman has yet scored a fifty in this game.

Outside off, Dhoni slams it to the third man region for one.

Over 39

FOUR. Edged, and four. India 192/5 off 39 overs.

Yorker off the fifth ball, Dhoni plays it down the ground for one.

Short ball, hurries onto Ravindra Jadeja who is tucked up and India get a bye.

Dhoni still not going on the attack, has he given up?

Ball on the hips and Dhoni runs a quick two.

Over 37

On the pads, Dhoni can't get it away, and India just get two off the over. 179/5.

Very short ball outside off, Jadeja rides the bounce and gets a single to third man.

Short leg to Ravindra Jadeja, who misses a flick, ball hits his pad. But no real danger.

OUT! Given out, Rahane's ordinary innings is over. Australia reviewed the decision and there was a slight nick, as snicko showed. Rahane 44 off 68. India 178/5.

Rahane misses with the cut shot. Very ordinary innings so far. 

Dhoni taps to the off side and gets a single.

Over 36

Seven off the over, India 176/4.

FOUR. Dhoni finds the gap, cuts a widish ball, beats point, beats deep cover running in.

Rahane hits straight to backward point but India get a single.

Slower ball, fools Rahane as he plays an ugly stroke.

Wide from Faulkner and Dhoni misses with the swipe. Looks at the umpire but not called wide.

Over 35

In the air as Rahane flashes hard, but in the gap. Two runs, India 170/4 after 35 overs, and its powerplay time.

Short ball, turned away to long leg for one.

Rahane plays a false stroke, tries to run the ball down with slip in place. Misses and Australia appeal.

Johnson gets a quick single to the off side.

Over 33

On the legs, turned away for one, last ball coming up. No run. India 157/4 after 33 overs.

FOUR. Rahane drives, gets an edge, and the ball fies just wide of first slip for four. That's his first boundary. Gives you the scope of the thing.

Dhoni gets a single to the on side, strike rate horror Rahane back on strike.

Mitchell Johnson is back.

Over 32

Single off the last ball, India get just 2 off the over. 150/4.

Short ball, Rahane pulls but straight to deep midwicket for one.

He drives down the ground but straight to mid on.

Rahane plays two dot balls, the second of which should have been out caught if he hadn't checked his shot.

Over 31

FOUR. Rahane gets a single, and then Dhoni goes after a short ball outside off, gets a thick edge and flies down for four. India 148/4.

FOUR. Dhoni slams Hazlewood down the ground with gumption, nearly takes out the umpire who goes off his feet.

Over 30

Short ball, pulled into the deep and Rahane gets two. India 138/4 after 30 overs.

Dhoni averages 109 in successful run chases. He needs 109 today.

Shane Watson is into the attack. Again, if India just had two more wickets in the kitty.

Over 28

5 off 5 balls so far. If only India had two more wickets in hand. 130/4 after 28 overs.

Quick two as Dhoni plays the ball into the deep.

Over 27

Dhoni gets an outside edge which goes to third man for one. 4 off the over, India 125/4.

Single to long on.

Dhoni slams the ball towards deep midwicket, it was in the air for a while.

One off the first two balls.

Over 26

Single off the last ball, 6 off the over, India 121/4.

Slapped to sweeper cover for one.

Dhoni gets a single to long on. Required rate is well over 8 per over now. How things change.

Over 25

Quick two to fine leg, India 115/4 after 25 overs.

Dhoni drives, gets an inside edge and the ball goes to fine leg for one.

Over 23

OUT! Raina is gone, thick edge to the keeper and India are unraveling. Soft dismissal, no idea what he was thinking. India 108/4.

FOUR. Raina picks the ball up from off stump and dispatches it over midwicket for four.

Single to third man, Raina moves to 3.

Raina drives, but with no timing and to mid on. 29/3 off the last 10 overs. Game changer.

Over 22

India 102/3 after 22 overs.

Raina comes down the track but has to check his shot as Maxwell drops the length short. Nevertheless he gets his first run.

Rahane cuts hard and finds point, it dropped in front of point. Batsman is way out of form.

Over 21

No run off the last ball, India 98/3 after 21 overs.

Another short ball, Raina ducks and its a wide ball. Starc has some choice words for the batsman.

Full ball, Raina plays it back to Starc, who takes aim at the stumps and hits, Australia appeal, crowd boos.

Raina is still on 0. Rahane is on 9 off 20 balls.

Short ball, Rahane hooks but misses and the keeper appeals wildly. That was certainly not out.

Over 20

Inside edge from Raina, no run. India 95/3 after 20 overs.

Pulled away, but just a single to deep square leg.

India are in too much of a hole to attack right now.

Spin being introduced now. Just for the record, Rahane does not look comfortable at all.

Over 18

OUT! Rohit is gone, what a comeback from Johnson. Rohit drives blindly on the front foot, the ball comes back in and Rohit is bowled. 91/3.

SIX! Short ball, slightly slower, and smashed for six by Rohit over midwicket.

Another single to sweeper cover. 

Rohit drives through covers and India get one. The innings is in a rut now.

Another short ball, face high, Rahane pulls awkwardly for one.

Another short ball, Rahane blocks it out.

Johnson to Rahane.

Over 16

Flicked to the deep for one, India 80/2.

Brutal short ball to Rahane first up, he takes his eyes off and gets it on the bat handle. 1 run.

OUT! Virat Kohli is out, fast short ball, Kohli hooks, gets a top edge and Haddin catches a skier.

Over 15

Still no run, played to midwicket. India 77/1 after 15 overs.

Attempts to hit a ball outside off late, meets air and Haddin appeals for no reason.

Kohli appears to be distinctly struggling for form. His wicket will be huge.

Over 14

Single to third man off the last ball, just one off the over, India 77/1 after 14 overs.

Good length outside off, Virat was into driving mood but then played it with soft hands down the ground.

Virat drives through covers but no run.

Virat Kohli is the new man in and he gets treated to a good short ball which he fends well.

Over 13

OUT! Dhawan is gone, he went down the track and scooped it, but holed out to deep cover. 45 off 41, crowd gives him a big ovation. India 76/1.

Short ball, throat high and Rohit hooks, top edge goes over short midwicket for two.

On legs and Rohit can't get it away, no wide called because it hit the pads on the way to the keeper. There was a huge appeal from Haddin.

Josh Hazlewood is back.

13 runs came off the last over as Dhawan went berserk.

Over 11

Dot ball last. India 60/0 after 11.

On the hips and tucked away behind square for one.

Down the leg side, wide ball called.

Searing short ball, Dhawan sways out of the way quickly. Great ball, good reaction, good cricket.

Dhawan flicks the ball to deep midwicket for two, but now the powerplay is over so there is a fielder there.

Over 10

SIX! Dhawan walks outside off, picks up a full ball on middle and off and scorches it over deep midwicket for six! India 55/0 after 10 overs.

FOUR. Good timing, through covers again and the diving cover can't get to it.

FOUR. Down the track again and this time he gets it right in the middle, the ball flies through the covers for four.

Dhawan comes down the track but misses with the bat swing.

Full ball on middle, Rohit gives it the full gun but there was no need to do that. India get just one.

No ball from James Faulkner, free hit coming up.

Over 9

No run off the last three balls, India 39/0 after 9 overs.

On the pads and Dhawan fails to put it away.

FOUR. Good length ball on off, and driven on the backfoot, great placement off a good ball.

Johnson comes from over the wicket now, and Dhawan flicks it through the off side for two.

Over 8

Rohit defends the last ball, India 33/0 after 8 overs.

On the knees and driven for one by Rohit.

Short, hooked hard but just a single to fine leg.

Dhawan defends the first ball to cover.

Over 7

Great straight drive from Rohit but Johnson gets a hand on it. India 30/0 after 7 overs.

SIX! Short ball, and Rohit hooks it for six! Great shot, good timing and brilliant timing.

Mitchell Johnson is the new bowler.

Over 5

Rohit leaves the last ball which is short and rising. 20/0 after 5 overs.

Ball swings in to Dhawan, who misses, huge appeal from Australia and not given. Australia decide to preserve the review, that was clearly going down leg.

Three. Flicked in the air by Rohit, but in the gap. Gets three as the ball slows down near the fence.

Dhawan gets a single off the first ball of a new over from Starc.

Over 4

Slammed down to third man for one. India 15/0 after 4 overs.

DROPPED. Dhawan charges down, edges the ball, sharp chance for Haddin who drops it! Hard chance though.

FOUR. Short ball, sits up on Dhawan, who pulls for four with disdain. 

Flicked through the on side and India get one.

Over 3

On the pads again, Dhawan flicks but no run. India 9/0 after 3 overs.

Two balls defended by Dhawan.

Waist high full toss, out to third man for a single, Rohit should have done better than that.

On the pads but Dhawan can get only one, those are the kind of balls that need to hit the fence.

Inside edge for Dhawan.

Over 2

On the pads, Rohit can't get it off his hips. India 7/0 after 2 overs.

Short ball, Rohit hooks without conviction, hurried, but lands safely behind the keeper. 

Ball comes back in, closer to stumps, Rohit leaves.

Rohit lets the second ball go, too wide frankly to threaten him.

Dhawan drives through off but point makes a good diving stop. Just one.

Over 1

Edged again, drops short of first slip. One good shot, 4 poor shots. India 4/0 after one over.

FOUR. Driven through point, in the air but very safe, good shot.

Not out. Just fell short of first slip, the ball touched the ground just before Watson took it. Very close. Rohit is all nerves.

Edged, Rohit drives outside off without feet movement, and the question is whether it has carried to the fielder. Third umpire called in.

Dabbed to the off side, no run.

Second ball, Rohit thinks about it but leaves.

Rohit drives outside off first ball, misses.

Starc bowling the firs

Good flourish from Australia at the end, made about a 15-run difference. But India won't be too gutted. Around 34 overs, Australia were looking at 350 +. Great comeback from India towards the end. 328 though, is still a big, big score to chase in a semifinal. About 25 over par I think. 

Over 50

Good last ball, Johnson gives room but the ball follows him, just a single to the off side, Australia finish on 329/7 after 50 overs.

SIX! Australia finishing with a flourish. Short, sits up and slammed for six over mid wicket.

FOUR. Slapped over wide mid on for four.

DROPPED! Haddin slogs, Kohli at deep midwicket fluffs the first take, then the second and finally the third.

Slower ball, slapped to deep midwicket for one.

Mohit Sharma to bowl the last over. Umesh had one over left!!

Over 49

Single off the last ball, 14 off the over, Australia 313/7 after 49 overs.

FOUR. Short outside off, Johnson swings but gets an edge which goes over third man for four.

FOUR. Slower short ball, hit over cover, no timing but still goes for four.

FOUR. Mitchell Johnson slams the ball over midwicket for four.

Haddin hits in the air to mid off, Kohli takes it on the bounce and throws at the striker's end. Misses the stumps. 300 up.

Full outside off but hit straight to mid off.

Shami to bowl his last over. Can he knock two over? 0/54 so far.

Over 48

Good yorker, still a single to third man. 11 off the over and a wicket. 299/7 after 48 overs.

OUT! Slower ball, length on middle and off, and Watson pulls it straight down the throat of deep midwicket. 298/7.

Yorker, on off stump, Watson can't beat point.

FOUR. Short, sits up and slammed for four through deep midwicket.

Great slower ball, Watson was through with the cross batted hoick, but it falls between two fielders.

FOUR. Full outside off, beautiful smash from Watson, beats cover who didn't dive.

Mohit to bowl his 9th over.

Over 47

FOUR. Not a bad ball, just fuller than yorker length but Haddin clubs it down the ground with brute force. Australia 288/6 after 47 overs.

Two dot balls to Brad Haddin as pressure builds on Australia

OUT! Bowled 'im! Full and fast, but slightly more length than last ball. Faulkner swings, ball takes out off stump. Australia 284/6.

FOUR. Full this time and Faulkner goes leg side, between long off and deep midwicket for four.

Short, slammed to deep midwicket for one.

Yadav is back for his 9th over.

Over 46

Just a single off the last ball, good over except for the six, Australia 279/5 after 46 overs.

Watson swings, inside edges and Australia abandon the thought of a run midway.

Faulkner moves outside leg and Jadeja puts it flat on middle, good fielding restricts Faulkner to 1.

SIX! Powerfully slog swept for six by Faulkner.

Jadeja is back.

Over 45

Great yorker last ball, still 13 off the over. Australia 271/5.

FOUR. Short, but not short enough, pulled for four. Splits the gap between deep square leg and long leg.

FOUR. Mighty pull from Faulkner, top edge goes for four.

Slow and short again, Watson slams it over cover for two runs.

Slow short ball, flicked to midwicket for one.

Over 44

Watson pulls Ashwin over midwicket for six off the last ball. Spoils a good over. 8 off it, Ashwin 1/42 off 10. Aussies 258/5 after 44 overs.

Over 43

Another great over, 2 runs off it and 34 off the last 7 for 3 wickets. Australia 250/5.

Very low full toss, played to deep midwicket for one.

Good ball. Short and rips into Faulkner's elbow, he defends with discomfort.

James Faulkner.

OUT! Clarke is gone and the game is in the balance now! Short outside off, Clarke pulls hard and straight down the throat of midwicket. Funny thing was, the commentators said just as Mohit was running in that 'every side targets Clarke with the short ball'. Haha.

Over 41

Great over, 2 off it. 10 runs off the last 4 overs, and 2 wickets. Australia 241/4 after 41 overs.

Slow short ball, Watson takes his eyes off as he hooks. Misses.

Short outside off, slashed to cover, no run.

Short, Clarke goes for the pull and misses. Called one for the over.

Mohammad Shami comes back for his nth spell. 

Over 40

Four off five balls so far. Now a dot ball. Australia 239/4 after 40 overs.

Driven in the air but safe, single to long off.

Clarke drives down to long on for one.

Jadeja comes back.

Over 39

Great over, two runs and a wicket, 235/4 after 39.

One ball to go, 2 runs off this so far. 4 off 10 balls and two wickets.

Michael Clarke is the new batsman. Two new batsmen now.

OUT! Short and fast, Finch pulls, gets high on him and Short midwicket takes the catch. Two quick wickets for India, Australia 233/4.

Yadav continues. Watson is the new batsman. Will bouncers work now?

Over 38

Aussies 233/3 after 38 overs.

OUT! Maxwell slog sweeps, and finds deep midwicket with precision! Big break for India, Maxwell goes for 23.

R Ashwin comes back.

Over 37

Yorker outside off, Maxwell was backing away and then slapped it to cover, well fielded too. Australia 231/2 after 37.

FOUR. Maxwell gives room, length ball and smashed back. Nearly kills the umpire as Umesh tries to get a hand to it.

SIX. Short, sits up and smashed over deep midwicket for six.

FOUR. Swivel pulled for four.

Rapped on the pads and India appeal, but it was going over. A run out is missed at the non-striker's end though.

Over 36

Single off the last ball, Australia 216/2 after 36 overs.

Yorked, biffed to the on side, sharp single and the mid on fielder hits the stumps. Third umpire called needlessly, not out.

FOUR. Short on the hips and turned away, Yadav doesn't stop the boundary at fine leg.

Turned away to third man for one.

Short ball and fast, Maxwell goes for the smash, gets a top edge and the ball flies to third man for two.

Mohammad Shami to bowl.

Over 35

Overthrows but Australia don't run the second. 206/2 after 35 overs.

Short outside off but Maxwell can't get it away.

FOUR. On the pads and Umesh's pace takes Maxwell's flick to the fence, beats deep midwicket and long leg.

OUT! Short and fast from Yadav, Smith swings hard, and gets a top edge. Still gets it to deep midwicket who takes a low catch. Australia 197/2. And it's drinks.

Umesh Yadav comes back. 16 off the last over.

Over 33

FOUR. 100 for Smith with a boundary, off 89 balls. Swivel pulled behind square for four. Australia 181/1 after 33.

SIX! Length ball outside off and Smith swings hard across the line, the ball meets hoarding behind the deep midwicket fence.

Outside off, Smith goes for the booming drive without moving his feet, and misses.

FOUR. Low full toss but on the legs, flicked away by Smith for four behind square, moves to 90.

Mohammad Shami is back and he bowls two dot balls to much cheering.

Over 32

He goes for the sweep and is hit in front but umpire won't give it out. Australia 167/1.

Oh dear. Smith moves away, Ashwin follows him and Smith apparently hits straight to point. The fielder's hands and legs are made of slime though and it slips through. Australia get two.

Reverse sweep, beats short third man but only two.

Ashwin continues, swept hard to deep square leg for one.

Over 31

One off the last ball, Australia 161/1.

Low full toss and Finch can't get it away.

Swings in, Finch is struck high on the pad, and the Indians appeal. Height might have been a problem, not given.

FOUR. Dhoni is up to the stumps but Smith moves to 84 with a great drive down the grouns.

Over 30

Two off the over, Australia 155/1 after 30 overs.

Australia continue to milk the bowling. Ashwin is into his 7th over.

Over 29

Pulled between deep midwicket and long leg, the fielder dives to stop the four. Australia 153/1 after 29 overs.

On the legs and scooped to deep midwicket for one.

Smith gives the charge, smashes the ball down to deep cover for two.

Smith swings outside off without foot movement and misses.

Mohit Sharma is back.

Over 27

FOUR. Down the track comes Smith, flicks over midwicket for four. 143/1.

50 for Aaron Finch. Laboured innings but important all the same.

Jadeja continues, perhaps Dhoni should bring in other bowlers.

Over 26

Two off the last ball, Australia 135/1 in 26 overs.

Driven down to long on for one.

Smith drives, Ashwin gets a hand to it and it hits the stumps. Was the non-striker out of the crease? No he wasn't. The third umpire says not out.

Ashwin continues to Smith.

Over 25

One off the last ball, Australia 131/1.

SIX! Great shot, not short at all and pulled flat into the deep midwicket fence for six.

On the pads, loops up, Dhoni takes it and Jadeja appeals. But it was pad.

Over 23

Australia 119/1.

That was plumb. But the ball was pitching outside off stump. Hence declared not out. Horrible rule. How can pitching outside off be not out?

Turn, hits in front, huge appeal by Jadeja, and he has convinced Dhoni to go for the review!

Over 22

Australia 114/1 after 22 overs.

Sharp turn but Finch turns the ball to long leg and they run a really good two runs. 

FOUR. Short, just comes on nicely despite the turn and Finch cuts for four behind point.

Over 21

Two runs off the over, Australia 107/1 after 21.

Ravindra Jadeja continues.

Over 20

Rips, turns, edged to fine leg, Australia do well to run three. Australia 105/1 after 20 overs.

Swing and a miss, hit flush on the back pad but there was a big inside edge. Otherwise he was plumb.

Down the ground and Smith gets one.

Over 19

Single off the last ball, and Smith gets to a really fluent fifty. Aus 100/1 after 19 overs.

Four dot balls as Smith tries to get to 50.

Jadeja continues and Smith edges to short leg, but there is no short leg.

Over 18

Oh. Smith drives, ball turns in from outside off and he nearly inside edges onto the stumps.  98/1 after 18.

Turns in sharply, but Finch backs away and drives past mid off for one,

Short, but Finch fails to get it past point.

Ashwin comes into the attack and gets milked down the ground for one.

Over 17

Australia 96/1 after 17 overs.

FOUR. Short, sits up and slammed for four. 

Good ball, slow ball and Smith drives. Inside edge and goes to short midwicket. No run.

Driven into the deep for two, good running again. India need to do something different or Australia will run away with this game.

Mohit to continue. 0/12 off 3.

Over 16

Australia 89/1 after 16 overs and its drinks.

FOUR. Short but doesn't rise, just turns. Finch cracks it through the covers for four.

Over 15

5 off the over, 82/1 after 15 overs.

Slow, short outside off and smashed to sweeper cover for one.

The ball is hardly swinging anymore. 2 off three balls so far.

Mohit Sharma continues. He has been solid without being sensational so far.

Over 14

Well run! Driven into the off side and where there should have been one, Australia get three! It was not even as if India fielded poorly. 77/1 after 14 overs as the runs continue to flow.

Drives and a good stop at cover.

Down the track and Smith gets a single to long on.

Finch gives himself a ton of room, Jadeja follows him and he gets just a single to deep point.

Ravindra Jadeja is the new bowler. Kohli was just used as change.

It looked like a wicket was round the corner in the first 9 overs but things have changed since Yadav's horror over.

Over 12

Full toss now, and driven to long off for one. Australia 64/1 after 12.

FOUR. Short, smashed for four through midwicket. Half-tracker.

Driven, straight to cover and the crowd (and our office) erupts. It was a bump ball!

Virat Kohli has been brought on second change!!

Over 11

Brilliant over, just 1 off it. Repairs some of Yadav's damage. 57/1 after 11.

Good ball straight on off, Smith defends again.

Short, elbow high and Smith defends to the on side.

Mohit Sharma is the new bowler and Finch gets one through the on side.

Over 10

Great over for Australia, 16 off it. 56/1 after 10 overs.

FOUR. Short again, sits up waist high, and Smith plays a Ponting-like pull for four through square leg. 

FOUR. Short on middle, Smith swings it powerfully to square for four. Poor over by Yadav.

Outside off, driving length and Umesh stops the drive in his follow through.

FOUR. Short again, sits up outside off and Smith cracks it through wide mid on for four.

FOUR. Short and wide from Yadav and it gets the full gun from Smith. 

Over 9

Outside off and left alone by Finch. Good over. 2 off it, Aus 40/1 after 9.

Short, fast, Finch pulls but hits very high on the bat. Good bowling.

Over 8

Short on the ribs, but too fast for the pull, Finch nevertheless manages a poor shot to the on side for one. Australia 38/1 after 8.

Single down to fine leg, Australia look for two but it's not there.

Driven to point, and bounces just in front of him. No run.

Good length but on the pads, batsman gets one to square leg.

Over 7

Good last ball, Australia 34/1 after 7 overs.

Wide down the leg side, as is Shami's habit once in a while.

Short and slow, pulled away but trickles down to long leg for one.

Two dot balls as Finch leaves two outside off.

Over 6

Short outside off, Smith misses out, slaps it down the ground but straight to mid on. Australia 32/1 after 6 overs.

Beaten for pace. Yorker outside off and some swing in the air, Smith plays late and down the wrong line.

Another outside edge, another single.

Outside off and Smith lets it go. The last ball hit Smith high on the pad and India went up. But it was just going over the stumps.

Over 5

Yorker, but on leg stump. Finch flicks it through square leg and Rohit does well to stop it near the boundary. Australia 31/1.

Outside edge and down to third man for one.

Shorter length but on middle stump, Finch gets two to fine leg.

FOUR. Full on middle, and driven for four by Finch.

Over 4

Fast, short and swinging away, Smith lets it go. Australia 21/1.

FOUR. Fuller just on off, Smith drives well and there was no mid off. Extra cover can't stop it.

Into the ribs again and Smith defends to the on side.

Steve Smith is the new batsman and he gets a streaky single to third man. Yadav is charging in now.

OUT! Short ball, well directed, into the ribs and fast, and Warner gets a thick edge as he tries to flick it to the on side. Goes straight up and short cover takes an easy catch! 15/1.

Over 3

Great over, just one wide from it. Australia 15/0 after 3.

Wide driving length outside off, Finch goes for a big booming shot, bat turns in his hand and the ball goes to the on side.

Finch is one off 9 balls.

Rapped on the pads, good incutter, too high says the umpire.

Wow. Ball swings the other way, nips back, and Finch's massive swipe down the ground meets air.

WIDE from Shami, outside leg.

Over 2

SIX! Warner lofts Umesh into the stands over wide long on for six. Australia 14/0 after 2 overs.

Ripper, squares up Finch, thick edge to third man for one.

Quick single to the off side, good running. The ball is not bouncing too much.

Better line, fuller and on middle and off, defended.

FOUR. Umesh Yadav goes full off the first ball and it is placed well down the ground by Warner, mid off can't get there.

Over 1

Edged to the on side, Australia 2/0 after 1 over.

Dabbed into the off side and Warner gets a single.

Played and missed, no feet, there was not so much swing on that. Warner nervous?

Swinging in, rapped on the pads, Shami goes up in appeal but its probably drifting down leg.

Just short outside off and defended by Finch.

Outside off, shaping away, and beats Aaron Finch first ball.

Aaron Finch and David Warner the openers, Mohammad Shami the bowler.

It's almost time to begin after the national anthems conclude.

8:27 IST Thursday, 26 March 2015

Michael Clarke says Australia will bat first. MS Dhoni says he would have batted first too, but he's not disappointed.

Clarke spins the coin and Dhoni calls heads. It's tails and Australia have won the toss.

Time for the toss.

7:38 IST Thursday, 26 March 2015

Welcome to the LIVE coverage of the India v/s Australia semifinal, beginning at 9 am IST at Sydney. This is one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament, and is expected to be every bit as close as the New Zealand-South Africa semifinal the other day in Auckland.

India are on a hot unbeaten streak having won all 7 of their games so far with relative ease. Australia have only lost to New Zealand in 7 games, and by a single wicket. Thus, this big-ticket game promises to be one of the most intensely fought semifinals to date.

As with the New Zealand-South Africa game, it is hard to pick a winner. Australia have the home advantage but India have form, guts and gumption on their side. Australia have resorted to more 'mental disintegration' than ever before, but this Indian team is unlikely to be fazed by it. Here's the match preview for this clash. 

Both teams go in with tangible advantages apart from form and confidence. While the slow Sydney track may favour India, Australia have a terrific record at the SCG, and more so against India - Played 14, Won 12, Lost 1. They play at home but 70% of the seats have reportedly been booked by Indians, so we'd just as much be in Chennai as in Sydney today.

Words, words and words. The Australians have been speaking a lot, almost as if in desperation, in a bid to make India panic ahead of the semifinal. For example, James Faulkner claims Australia hold the 'X factor' that will take them to the final. Aaron Finch, himself out of form with the bat, feels his team can 'nullify' India's pace bowling. Steve Smith also seems to believe in this hype. Mitchell Johnson, mediocre with the ball so far in the tournament, wants to sledge India because David Warner can no longer do it.

Michael Clarke is another Australian batsman battling poor form, but he's hitting out at his critics for it. Matthew Hayden on the other hand, has already decided it would be a New Zealand- Australia final, and has jumped the gun by sledging the Kiwis instead of the Indians. This even though he retired several years ago after an extended spell of poor form.

While MS Dhoni might maintain a studied silence over the barbs from the other side, Virat Kohli is not one to back down. He thinks its the best time to beat Australia. He also made it a point to praise India's bowlers, who have taken 70 wickets in 7 games. He claimed that India were not surprised by their great performance though other teams may have been. Rohit Sharma though seems more interested in ensuring nobody breaks his ODI record for highest score.

Among the legends, Sunil Gavaskar is not optimistic about India's chances, but Brian Lara is.

Also, here are some vital facts from India and Australia's World Cup campaigns so far and the history between the two sides.

LIVE COVERAGE

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