Yuvraj powers India to semis
Yuvraj Singh blasted a fifty and picked up two wickets as India roared into the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, blowing Australia by the wayside in Motera.
The southpaw was supported by a composed Suresh Raina once India looked like landing in trouble. Sachin Tendulkar, of course cracked his 94th ODI fifty and in the process going past 18,000 ODI runs.Gautam Gambhir also chipped in with 50 to help India gain a solid platform in the middle stages of the chase.
Ricky Ponting regained his form with a terrific century to power Australia to 260 for six in the World Cup quarter-final against India in Ahmedabad today.
Ponting, whose previous highest in this year's tournament was 36, hit 104 off 118 balls to anchor the innings after the fall of opener Brad Haddin (53).
Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Ravi Ashwin picked up two wickets apiece on a two-paced Motera wicket.
Batting first after winning the toss Australia made a steady start - 70 in 15 overs - though Ashwin had by then dismissed Shane Watson (25).
Haddin and Ponting then negated the threat of India's spinners and singled Munaf Patel out for special treatment, with his first two overs going for 19 as Australia reached 100 after 21 overs.
Haddin brought up his half-century off 57 balls with a boundary - his sixth - but Yuvraj ended his brisk 70-run stand with Ponting thanks to a smart catch at cover by Suresh Raina.
India tried to apply the brakes thereafter, stifling Ponting and his deputy Michael Clarke before Yuvraj had an impatient Clarke caught in the deep to leave Australia 140 for three.
Ponting reached his 50 off 67 balls, but Zaheer soon rattled the off-stump of new man Michael Hussey, on just three, with a clever variation of pace.
Ponting switched gears by smacking Yuvraj's last over for a six and a boundary as the left-arm spinner ended his spell on two for 44.
The Australia captain hit 28 in the 40-run stand with Cameron White before Zaheer caught the latter off his own bowling for a 22-ball 12.
Australia reached 200 for five in the 44th over and soon Ponting had a reprieve while on 94 when an lbw appeal by Harbhajan Singh was turned down despite television replays suggesting the ball could have gone on to hit the stumps.
Ponting reached his fifth World Cup century off 113 balls and hit seven fours and a six but Ashwin sent him back to the pavilion at last when he was caught attempting a reverse sweep.
David Hussey's unbeaten 26-ball 38 boosted the innings towards the end as Australia scored 41 off the last five overs.
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