This was the highest total by any team against India in this edition of the mega-event as the Australian batsmen dominated proceedings for the major part to become the first team to post a 300-plus score in a World Cup semifinal.
Steven Smith's brilliant century propped up Australia before Indian bowlers staged a comeback of sorts but the hosts still managed to post a commanding 328 for seven in the second semi-final of the 2015 World Cup at Sydney on Thursday.
This was the highest total by any team against India in this edition of the mega-event as the Australian batsmen dominated proceedings to become the first team to post a 300-plus score in a World Cup semifinal. It was also the only time that Indian bowlers failed to take all 10 wickets of the opposition team after Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.
Smith batted like a man possessed as the Indian attack looked pedestrian, thanks to his superb 105 off 93 balls which included 11 boundaries and two sixes. Aaron Finch, who played the role of sheet anchor to perfection with a patient 81 off 111 balls (seven fours and a six), added 182 off 31 overs for the second wicket with Smith.
LIVE Cricket World Cup 2015 Semifinal India v/s Australia: Australia finish on formidable 328/7
Mitchell Johnson also played out a superb cameo, scoring 27 off 9 balls (4x4, 1x6) that helped the hosts cross the 320-run mark. The trio of Umesh Yadav (4/72), Mohammed Shami (0/68) and Mohit Sharma (2/75) were hammered into submission due to some poor bowling and execution.
However, it was Ravichandran Ashwin, who walked away with honours (1/42), which included the prized scalp of Glenn Maxwell (23 from 14 balls) with a well thought out trap. It meant that India could stop Australia from racing away to a total in range of 350 which always looked possible when Maxwell started tonking the seamers.
The Australian innings was all about Smith's approach and the manner in which he tackled the Indian bowling which has been a dominant force throughout the tournament. So simple yet effective was Smith's approach at the crease that it never seemed he was scoring at a rate of more than run-a-ball, yet he did it with elan. His 100 came off 89 balls.
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