SYDNEY — Australia ended 2011 champion India's unbeaten run at the World Cup with a 95-run victory Thursday that ensured the tournament co-hosts will meet in the final. Steve Smith scored 105 and shared a 182-run partnership with Aaron Finch (81) to help Australia post 328-7, a record for a World Cup knockout match. India started its chase confidently, with openers Shikhar Dhawan (45) and Rohit Sharma (34) surviving early scares to get the total to 76 in the 13th over before Josh Hazlewood broke through to change the momentum of the innings. Mitchell Johnson chimed in with two quick wickets and India was eventually out for 233 in 46.5 overs despite Mahendra Singh Dhoni's late cameo of 65. Four-time champion Australia will play unbeaten New Zealand in Sunday's title match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. New Zealand edged Australia by one wicket in the group stage to finish atop Pool A, then beat South Africa with a ball to spare in the semifinal at Auckland to reach a World Cup final for the first time. “Obviously really excited, (we) played some outstanding cricket, Smithy's hitting the ball so sweetly and I was really proud of the execution of our bowlers,” Australia captain Michael Clarke said. “A lot of the guys sacrificed themselves for the team. “We're proud to make the final but it's going to be tough against New Zealand.” India had won 11 consecutive World Cup matches dating back to a group-stage loss to South Africa in 2011, including its first seven matches in the 2015 edition when it was the only team to bowl out its opposition in every game leading into the semifinals. India had the majority of the support in the crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground, too, but was unable to capitalize at a venue where it has only once previously beaten Australia in a limited-over international. Australia won the toss and elected to bat, and started nervously with Mohammed Shami beating the edge twice in the opening over and Umesh Yadav (4-72) dimissing David Warner (12) in the fourth. That brought Smith to the crease, and he picked up where he left off in the pre-World Cup matches against India. He scored a century in each of the four matches in the Test series and 47 in a one-dayer during a stretch of two months when India didn't win a match on Australian soil. His second-wicket partnership with Finch gave Australia a solid foundation before India rallied with Yadav removing them both in quick succession. Smith faced 93 balls and hit 11 boundaries and two sixes before Yadav struck with the first ball of his second spell, making the score 197-2 in the 35th over. Glenn Maxwell belted 23 from 13 balls before he was out to Ravi Ashwin, Yadav removed Finch in the next over and then Clarke (10) was out to Mohit Sharma, slowing down the strike rate. Shane Watson (28), James Faulkner (21) and Mitchell Johnson, who hit 27 from nine balls, contributed late to help Australia become the first team to post a 300-plus total in a World Cup semifinal. “You get pressure chasing 300-plus,” Dhoni said, “Makes you do things you don't want to do.” India had some early reprieves, with Sharma edging the fourth ball from Starc to Watson at slip but TV replays were inconclusive on the catch and he got the benefit of the doubt. Dhawan was on five when he was dropped by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, diving across to his left, off Hazlewood's bowling when the Indian total at 14. Dhawan made the most of the let off, taking India past 50 in the 10th over with two boundaries and a six off three consecutive balls in Faulkner's first over. India raced to 76 before Hazlewood had Dhawan caught in the deep in the 13th. The Australian pacemen maintained the pressure by conceding just a single from 14 balls until Virat Kohli (1) was caught behind off Johnson. Sharma pulled Johnson for a six to end a six-over stretch without a boundary but was bowled next ball, and India's chase was stalling at 91-3 in the 18th over. Ajinkya Rahane (44) added 70 with Dhoni before he feathered a catch behind off Starc in the 37th over and was given out on review. With the run rate required rising above 11 per over, and after Dhoni got a life when he was dropped by Clarke on 44, two runouts virtually ended India's chances. Smith had Ravi Jadeja (16) out with a direct hit to make the total 208-6 and Maxwell ended Dhoni's run-a-ball 65 with another direct hit at the non-striker's end. Faulkner (3-59) and Starc (2-28) wrapped up the tail. — AP
