Ind vs Aus : India beat Australia to reach semis

In a crucial quarter-final clash, India thrashed Australia by 5 wickets to register their semi final seat on Thursday night at the Sardar Patel Stadium.

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Australia were knocked out of the World Cup with a five-wicket defeat at the hands of favourites India in the quarter-final here Thursday.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting, 36, scored an inspirational 104 under immense pressure and led the three-time defending champions to a total of 6-260.

Half centuries from Sachin Tendulkar (53), Gautam Gambhir (50) and Yuvraj Singh (57 not out) saw India cruising home safely largely untroubled.

Yuvraj , fresh from his 113 on Sunday in a Group B match against West Indies, hit an unbeaten 57 to win the man-of-the-match award and Suresh Raina was 34 not out.

Shane Watson dismissed Virender Sehwag (15) with a short ball but India had already scored 44 off eight overs.

Dimissal of Virat Kohli (24) and Gambhir 25 runs later, kept Australia in the game. A loose shot from Dhoni (7), caught at point off Brett Lee’s bowling, boosted Australia’s hopes.

But Yuvraj and Raina took 27 runs from the 40th and 41st overs bowled by Lee and Tait to ease the pressure on India.

Earlier, Ponting used all his experience to carve out his first hundred in international cricket for 13 months in a masterful display on a slow-paced pitch.

The veteran No.3 batsman was finally out in the 49th over, popping a catch off an attempted reverse sweep at 6-245.

Ponting hit seven fours and one six from 118 balls. It was his 30th one-day international hundred and fifth in World Cups.