Australia set 329 for India

Aaron Finch hits down the ground, Australia v India, World Cup 2015, 2nd semi-final, Sydney, March 26, 2015. Photo: espncricinfo
Aaron Finch hits down the ground, Australia v India, World Cup 2015, 2nd semi-final, Sydney, March 26, 2015. Photo: espncricinfo
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Australia set a 329-run target for India in the second Semi-Final of ICC World Cup in Sydney on Thursday. Australia scored 328 runs for 7 wickets after their captain Michel Clarke won the toss and chose to bat first at Sydney Cricket Ground. Steven Smith smashed his fourth one day international century while Aaron Finch bagged his seventh ODI half-century to power Australia towards a giant total. Smith reached his hundred in the last delivery of 33rd over driving Mohammed Shami out of the boundary. The 25-year right hand batsman played 89 balls and hit 10 fours and 2 sixes to complete his century. He later added another boundary and was out at 105. Smith and Aaron Finch built a 182-run partnership in the second wicket off 31 overs after Umesh Yadav eliminated David Warner (12) in the first delivery of the 4th over. Finch scored 81 runs. The 28-year right hand batsman played 116 balls and hit 7 fours and a six. Mitchell Johnson smashed unbeaten 27 runs off 9 balls with 4 fours and a six. Besides Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell added 28 and 23 runs respectively. India pacer Umesh Yadav claimed 4 wickets for 72 runs in 9 overs while Mohit Sharma bagged 2 more for 75 runs. Australia have made no change to their winning XI nor have India. Australia Team AJ Finch, DA Warner, SPD Smith, MJ Clarke (Captain), SR Watson, GJ Maxwell, JP Faulkner, BJ Haddin (Wicketkeeper), MG Johnson, MA Starc, JR Hazlewood. India Team S Dhawan, RG Sharma, V Kohli, AM Rahane, SK Raina, MS Dhoni (Captain-Wicketkeeper), RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, MM Sharma, UT Yadav.

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