India ended Australia's 12-year World Cup domination Thursday, with Sachin Tendulkar leading a star-studded batting lineup to a five-wicket victory which set up a semifinal classic against archrival Pakistan.
The Australians, unbeaten in 34 consecutive World Cup matches until back-to-back defeats to Pakistan and India within six days, slumped to their worst run at the marquee limited-overs event since 1992.
Captain Ricky Ponting answered the critics who called for him to retire or be fired as captain, grafting 104 from 118 balls to anchor Australia's 260 for six, but it wasn't enough to save the defending champions.
Instead, it was the brilliant but sometimes brittle Indian batting lineup that won out over Australia's raw pace trio of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait.
Tendulkar (53) and Gautam Gambhir (50) set the course but in a seesawing match, India almost conspired to lose it in a jittery middle-order slide before Yuvraj Singh guided the hosts home with an unbeaten 57.
The Australians, unbeaten in 34 consecutive World Cup matches until back-to-back defeats to Pakistan and India within six days, slumped to their worst run at the marquee limited-overs event since 1992.
Captain Ricky Ponting answered the critics who called for him to retire or be fired as captain, grafting 104 from 118 balls to anchor Australia's 260 for six, but it wasn't enough to save the defending champions.
Instead, it was the brilliant but sometimes brittle Indian batting lineup that won out over Australia's raw pace trio of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait.
Tendulkar (53) and Gautam Gambhir (50) set the course but in a seesawing match, India almost conspired to lose it in a jittery middle-order slide before Yuvraj Singh guided the hosts home with an unbeaten 57.
