Australia has booked a semi-final berth against the BLACKCAPS in the ICC Champions Trophy with a commanding six-wicket victory over India in Mohali on Sunday.
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India posted a respectable 8-249 from its 50 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat, but man-of-the-match Damien Martyn (73 not out), Ricky Ponting (58) and Shane Watson (50) ensured Australia easily overhauled the total with 26 balls to spare.
Glenn McGrath was the star with the ball and finished with figures of 2-34 from his 10 overs, while Brett Lee (2-54) recovered from a wayward opening spell and bowled admirably near the death.
Adam Gilchrist and Watson kicked off the run-chase in style as Australia raced to 61 without loss in the ninth over, before a brilliant catch from Suresh Raina at point ended Gilchrist's knock on 23.
However, the breakthrough failed to halt the runs as Ponting combined with Watson to punish the Indian attack, the pair blasting the total past 100 in the 14th over.
Watson, who was hampered by cramp and required a runner, notched his half-century in the 16th over, but departed next ball when he was trapped in front by Dinesh Mongia.
Australia cruised to 2-185 in the 34th over before Ponting was brilliantly caught at first slip by Sachin Tendulkar, giving India a sniff of victory.
But Martyn quickly snuffed out that hope as he combined with Andrew Symonds (20) and Michael Clarke to reel off the remaining runs with ease; Australia's innings finishing at 4-252.
Sreesanth was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 2-43 from eight overs, while Mongia (1-36 from nine overs) bowled tightly.
Earlier, Virender Sehwag (65) and Rahul Dravid (52) laid a solid foundation for India's innings but the middle order failed to capitalise as the Australian attack tightened the screws in the final 20 overs to ensure there was no run blitz.
McGrath was given new-ball duties and started at his miserly best, claiming the prized scalp of Tendulkar for 10 to leave India at 1-46 in the 10th over.
Sehwag unleashed a glorious array of strokes as India reached 100 in the 23rd over, before Mitchell Johnson removed the dangerman to reduce the hosts to 3-127.
India was well-placed to launch a massive onslaught at 3-182 after 40 overs, but McGrath, Nathan Bracken and Lee bowled well down the stretch to concede just 67 runs from the final 10 overs.
