RESULT
2nd Semi-Final (D/N), Sydney, March 26, 2015, ICC Cricket World Cup
(46.5/50 ov, T:329) 233

Australia won by 95 runs

Player Of The Match
105 (93)
steven-smith
New
IND
Full commentary

10.45pm: India pass over their crown, then, but only after battling their way to last four, having been largely written off before the tournament. They have two of the four leading wicket-takers, in Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami, but the batsmen didn't quite fire when they most needed it. Suppose back-to-back semi-final thrillers was asking a lot. Australia, the World Cup usual suspects, they're into another final and you sense they haven't quite hit top gear yet. New Zealand are already flying, so we could be in for a real treat on Sunday. Brydon's report should be your next stop, then stick around for Match Point and a smorgasbord of analysis from the ground. We'll have plenty of build-up over the next couple of days, then Sid and myself will be back to take a figurative turn around the G. Until then, go well. Cheerio

10.35pm: Time for the post-match speeches, starting with India captain MS Dhoni: "They played very good cricket, over 300 is always a difficult score, I felt it was just over par, they could have had 350. We started okay but they bowled well, they got the reverse swing going. We were happy with where we were at the start of the tournament. We got off to a very good start, Shikhar's dismissal was slightly on the softer side, at a time when we could have had the bowling under pressure. Didn't really need to play a big shot. But you get pressure chasing 300+, makes you do things you don't want to do. There was too much [for me to do], our lower order can't contribute too much in these conditions. Most of the good teams bat quite deep. Not sure [about next World Cup], I'm 33, I'm still running, still fit. Next year, T20 World Cup, will be time to decide about 2019 or not. [Players improved?] Rahane is one, right through the Tests, ODIs, he's improved his batting a lot. I would like to thank the fans, at the end of the day when you play cricket you want people to come and watch, we've been here four months and the fans are travelling all over."

And here's Michael Clarke, Australia's beaming captain, after giving MS a hug: "Obviously really excited, the boys played some outstanding cricket, Smithy's hitting the ball so sweetly and I was really proud of the execution of our bowlers. A lot of the guys sacrificed themselves for the team. Thanks to MS Dhoni and the India team, they've given a lot over the summer... You asked if MS was going to be at the next World Cup, I'm sure he will be, he has a lot of cricket in him. Losing to New Zealand [in the group stage] gave us a kick up the backside, the boys have turned up to training and the results have showed that. It's a wonderful achievement, we're proud to make the final but it's going to be tough against New Zealand. We'll fly to Melbourne, recover tomorrow, speak about training. It's been a long summer, we've got a few aches, mentally ready for the final but physically a few things to sort out. They're a great team, it's always good to play New Zealand, we hope plenty of Aussies come out to support us."

10.25pm: In the end, the pressure bearing down was just too great. Australia pinned the first plus-300 total in a World Cup semi on the door and then let the scoreboard do the job for them. India's last four wickets fell for two runs in 15 balls but things had already got well beyond their compass by that point. So, we have the final many predicted, the two co-hosts: Australia in their seventh, New Zealand their first. It will be a rematch from the group stage, of course, when New Zealand won a nipper by one wicket. We'll have another one of those, please.

Steven Smith is named Man of the Match for his superb hundred, plus some handy work in the field: "Certainly does [feel good], we thought 330 was around par, we had to bowl and field well, the boys did a terrific job, so hang on Melbourne. [Pleased with performance] Big stage tonight, semi-final of a World Cup, just nice to get over the line at the end. I always think of those people who've helped you along the way, really happy where everything at the moment and looking forward to Melbourne. [Rahane review] Me and Maxi thought 'I'm sure he hit that', they looked upstairs and there it was. Nice one to get. [Runs left for the final] Hope so, another big hundred would be nice, going to be an amazing moment to play a World Cup final against New Zealand, in our conditions at the MCG.

46.5
W
Starc to Umesh Yadav, OUT

full and straight and Umesh is castled, too good for a No. 11. Australia win by 95 runs and go through to the World Cup final, India, the defending champions, lose their title as well as an 11-match unbeaten run

Umesh Yadav b Starc 0 (5b 0x4 0x6 5m) SR: 0
46.4
Starc to Umesh Yadav, no run
46.3
Starc to Umesh Yadav, no run

short and wide this time, Umesh stays clear

Takes a moment to compose himself, Clarke comes over to check if he's okay... On we go

46.2
Starc to Umesh Yadav, no run

yow, that has clanged Umesh on the helmet grill. No mercy from the Australians, Starc banged it in, rising with lethal intent, deflected off the glove and into his chin

46.1
1
Starc to Shami, 1 run

around the wicket, pitched up outside off, edged and it bobbles between keeper and slip, third man cleans up

end of over 46Wicket maiden
IND: 232/9CRR: 5.04 RRR: 24.25
Umesh Yadav0 (1b)
Mohammed Shami0 (0b)
James Faulkner 9-1-59-3
Mitchell Starc 8-0-27-1
45.6
Faulkner to Umesh Yadav, no run

full, too full and Umesh blocks it steadfastly on the front foot

In comes Umesh Yadav with Faulkner on a hat-trick... Cordon is packed

45.5
W
Faulkner to Sharma, OUT

another, Faulkner hits the stumps again! Two in two, India's time is almost up. Popped it on a length, slightly wobbly medium pace and Mohit played it like a stick of Kryptonite

Mohit Sharma b Faulkner 0 (1b 0x4 0x6 1m) SR: 0
45.4
W
Faulkner to Ashwin, OUT

bowled him, done for lack of pace and zing go the bails! Faulkner was carted around at the start of the innings but he's come back well, gets the legcutter on target and Ashwin plays all around it

Ravichandran Ashwin b Faulkner 5 (13b 0x4 0x6 19m) SR: 38.46
45.3
Faulkner to Ashwin, no run

length, outside off, dabs and misses again. Oh dear

45.2
Faulkner to Ashwin, no run

another cutter in the channel, Ashwin gets back on this one

"Looks like that Aussie fielding practice before the game while India played soccer is paying off," smugs Paul

45.1
Faulkner to Ashwin, no run

good length outside off, slightly slower and it slips past the outside edge

India need more than it is reasonable to expect from 30 balls... Faulkner returns

end of over 454 runs • 1 wicket
IND: 232/7CRR: 5.15 RRR: 19.40
Ravichandran Ashwin5 (9b)
Mohammed Shami0 (0b)
Mitchell Starc 8-0-27-1
Mitchell Johnson 10-0-50-2
44.6
1
Starc to Ashwin, 1 run

on the stumps, gets in line and pushes one into a gap

"Go Kiwis!!!" yelps Madhan, waving the white flag

44.5
Starc to Ashwin, no run

fired through at nearly 90mph, past the outside edge once again

44.4
Starc to Ashwin, no run

back of a length, speared across the batsman, who stays back and fishes unsuccessfully

In comes Mohammed Shami, for the last knockings, surely

44.3
W
Starc to Dhoni, OUT

gone, Dhoni is run out by a direct hit from Maxwell, that's all, folks! Dhoni heads straight off, head bowed, nothing even India's supernatural finisher could do about this. He'd worked the singles hard, flicked this off his legs to midwicket and let probability have a go - Maxwell only had one stump to aim at but he dead-eyed it, Dhoni didn't even bother to dive, he was that far out

MS Dhoni run out (Maxwell) 65 (65b 3x4 2x6 94m) SR: 100
44.3
2nb
Starc to Ashwin, (no ball) 1 run

Starc unleashes a beamer, wide of the stumps and Ashwin coolly steers it to third man - no-ball called, not a free hit, though

44.2
1
Starc to Dhoni, 1 run

drops short again, this time regular pace, swings across the line and picks out deep square leg

44.1
Starc to Dhoni, no run

short delivery, possibly slower and Dhoni pulls hard and fails to connect

Starc back on, he has three overs to bowl out

end of over 445 runs
IND: 228/6CRR: 5.18 RRR: 16.83
MS Dhoni64 (62b 3x4 2x6)
Ravichandran Ashwin3 (5b)
Mitchell Johnson 10-0-50-2
Shane Watson 4-0-29-0
43.6
1
Johnson to Dhoni, 1 run

full and outside off, flicked away in front of point for another single - they've seen off Johnson (2-50) but still need more than 100 from the last six

43.5
1
Johnson to Ashwin, 1 run

good line from Johnson, asking the batsman to take the risk, steered through the covers

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ICC Cricket World Cup
Pool A
TEAMMWLPTNRR
NZ660122.564
AUS64192.257
SL64280.371
BAN63270.136
ENG6244-0.753
AFG6152-1.853
SCOT6060-2.218
Pool B
TEAMMWLPTNRR
IND660121.827
SA64281.707
PAK6428-0.085
WI6336-0.053
IRE6336-0.933
ZIM6152-0.527
UAE6060-2.032