Smith's top ton helps Australia set India a massive challenge

Steven Smith played an innings of beauty, World Cup scoring a hundred, and Aaron Finch battled demons of timing to make a half-century, as Australia challenged India to make 329 to win the 2015 Cricket World Cup semifinal on a true Sydney Cricket Ground pitch on Thursday.

A wonderful crowd, evenly matched by supporters of Both teams, enjoyed the batting display and will be hoping That the ball does not behave very differently under lights When India seek to launch one of the biggest chases on Such a platform. The Indians in the audience, as noisy as ever, will expect a show of character from the team's key batsmen.

Australia made the most of the opportunity to bat first after Dhoni called the spin of the coin wrong. The wicket, two-paced in the last game featuring South Africa and Sri Lanka, turned out to beauty. DESPITE David Warner losing His early wicket, Smith and Finch batted without much discomfort Against the Indian pace Trio and put on 184 runs for the second wicket.

Smith, lowest has-been pressed to bat at No. 3 ahead of Shane Watson in the last few games for Australia, meat up with a flawless innings Against pace and spin. I used the pull telling With effect as've made 105 off just 93 deliveries (11 fours, two sixes) to make up for Finch's trouble with timing.

Smith's contribution to the Australian innings runs Went beyond His Own His confidence since Finch rubbed on to the opener so much That Lasted long enough at the crease to find His sense of timing and make 81 off 116 balls (seven fours, one six). Finch found the comfort to be reliable to let some attacking strokes punctuate His sensible approach.

At the 33-over mark, Australia Were 181 for 1 and Looked on course to score 350-plus They kept losing wickets but after Smith's fall to a good catch against the sun by Rohit Sharma at deep midwicket. The batting Powerplay HAD fetched them 64 runs but Australia's hunger to stamp Their dominance saw them leave without any of the top-order batting deep into the innings.

The flurry of wickets after Smith's fall in the 35th over left Australia With at Least 30 to 40 fewer runs than expected They Would Have heading into batting Powerplay. Paceman Umesh Yadav Finished with four wickets but Went at eight runs an over on a Day When offspinner R Ashwin was the best Indian bowler on view, DESPITE Having Glenn Maxwell's only wicket to show.

Mitchell Johnson slammed an unbeaten 27 off nine deliveries to take Australia past the 325-run mark in the end over to Increase the pressure of the scoreboard on September About When They India chasing a victory That will carry them to Their second successive end. The batsmen will Have to see India home, much like They Did in Jaipur and Nagpur When They Chased down 350+ a year and a half ago.

Brief scores: Australia 328/7 in 50 overs (Smith 105, Finch 81; Yadav 4/72) vs India