Cricket World Cup 2015 Results: Australia vs. India Score and Preview of Final

Australia will play New Zealand in the final of the 2015 Cricket World Cup after a 95-run win over India in their semi-final.

The co-hosts batted first and posted an imposing 328 for seven from their 50 overs. That was thanks to a wonderful century from Steve Smith, as well as a diligent 81 from Aaron Finch and a scintillating 27 from Mitchell Johnson with the overs ticking down.

India's response got off to a decent start, but the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan triggered a loss of four wickets for just 32 runs, and from that point on, the visitors were always well behind the required rate. MS Dhoni top-scored with 65, but the reigning champions never looked like securing the runs required as they stumbled to 233.

Here’s a look at how the match played out and which team is favoured by the bookmakers to sample glory in Melbourne on March 29.

Schedule

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Remaining Fixtures

Final—Australia vs. New Zealand, March 29, 4:30 a.m. (BST), Melbourne

Schedule courtesy of BBC Sport.

Tournament Odds and Final Preview

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Odds to Lift the Trophy

Team	Odds
Australia	2/5
New Zealand	9/5

For those Down Under, it won’t ever get much bigger than this, with Australia and New Zealand set to add another chapter to their longstanding rivalry at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the World Cup final.

Both teams have been absolutely superb in this tournament so far, and there’s little denying that the two finest teams in the competition have made it to the finale.

The match will be bristling with some of the best players in the world, too. Australia's Steve Smith bagged a magnificent century against India to push himself into the top 10 for runs scored in this tournament. For the opposition, Martin Guptill is the lead run-scorer and it'll be intriguing to see whether he can repeat his quarter-final heroics, when he scored an incredible unbeaten 237.

When it comes to bowling we're in for a real treat, too. New Zealand's Trent Boult is the top wicket-taker in the competition with 21, but Australia's Mitchell Starc is in hot pursuit with 20 in all. In Daniel Vettori, the Black Caps arguably have the best spin bowler in the world at the moment. He's taken 15 wickets during the competition.

In terms of the match itself, Australia will naturally be the favourites after they swatted aside India in their semi-final. With the MCG set to be packed with fervent green and gold support, they’ll feel as though they have an excellent chance of savouring glory for the fifth time in their decorated World Cup history.

But New Zealand have won every game at this World Cup and already beat their rivals in a thrilling match earlier in the tournament. Indeed, the Black Caps have overcome a lot of mental hurdles during this competition, and Brendon McCullum’s men will surely relish the prospect of going into the lion’s den for what should be a gripping occasion.

Odds courtesy of Oddschecker.com and accurate as of 11:40 a.m. (GMT), Mar. 26.

All statistics courtesy of ESPNcricinfo.

Australia Secure Final Berth with Fine Win over India

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Australia (328/7) beat India (233) by 95 runs

Australia booked a spot in the World Cup final against eternal rivals New Zealand after a convincing 95-run victory over India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The home side made 328 for seven from their 50 overs thanks to 105 from Steve Smith and 81 from Aaron Finch. India snaffled some momentum with late wickets, but a superb cameo from Mitchell Johnson—an unbeaten 27 off just nine balls—ensured the Baggy Greens finished on the front foot.

India’s chase started well, but the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan triggered a mini-collapse to put the home side in the box seat. Despite a determined 65 from MS Dhoni, India eventually fell well short on 233, handing Australia an easy 95-run win.

Here's the winning moment, courtesy of Sky Sports Cricket:

"

WATCH: It'll be Australia v New Zealand in the #CWC15 final as Starc wraps up the Indian innings in style. #AusvInd http://t.co/sSFroiHXpb

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 26, 2015"

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, David Warner assumed the role of aggressor early on in the innings for the co-hosts. But he failed to take advantage of the favourable conditions, and despite smashing an enormous six to send the SCG wild, he was caught off the bowling of Umesh Yadav for just 12.

That brought Finch and Smith together, and the pair settled any lingering nerves. The former was a defensive rock in the early stages, while Smith played with a lot more freedom, allowing the partnership to flourish as Australia started to rack up the runs at a brisk pace.

Included in that partnership was a superb century for Smith, who has been growing into this tournament in recent matches. As noted by Sky Sports News HQ, he’s enjoying a pretty special year:

"

Steve Smith once again the key batsman for Australia, as he so often has been in all formats in 2015. #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/izVaamXCk6

— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) March 26, 2015"

When he departed in the 35th over, Australia were well set on 197 for two and looking for a total in excess of 350. But to their credit, the Indian bowlers rallied, preventing Glenn Maxwell (23) and Michael Clarke (10) from building on starts on either side of the wicket of Finch, who was eventually dismissed for a stubborn 81.

Yadav—who picked up four wickets in the match—then dismissed the dangerous James Faulkner for 21, while Shane Watson fell to Mohit Sharma the very next over for 28. It looked as if India were going to limit Australia to a score of close to 300, but Johnson had the Sydney crowd on their feet with some clean late hitting, smashing four fours and a six in 27 from just nine balls.

Former England cricketer Allan Lamb predicted those late runs—which pushed Australia to 328 for seven—could prove to be key:

"

Aussies have enough thanks to #johnson big hitting at the end . Aussie bowlers have the upper hand @BeefyBotham @cutmaker @markb46

— Allan Lamb (@AllanLamb294) March 26, 2015"

India’s response got off to an excellent start thanks to Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, as they plundered 76 for the first wicket. But when the former departed, India lost their next three wickets for just 32 runs. Perhaps buoyed by his batting, Johnson did the damage up front, taking the key wickets of Sharma and Virat Kohli with some typically belligerent fast bowling.

As we can see, courtesy of Sky Sports Cricket, there were some engrossing battles going on out in the middle:

"

WATCH: Sharma smacks Johnson for six & this is how Mitchell responded. India now 91/3, live on Sky Sports World Cup http://t.co/RIKTjBj7HD

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 26, 2015"

At 108 for four, it was left to Ajinkya Rahane and Dhoni to rebuild the innings, and they got India through the middle portion of the match with little trouble. However, the scoring-rate was slow, and as we can see here, courtesy of BBC Test Match Special, with 15 overs remaining, India had a massive task on their hands:

"

35 overs gone and into the batting powerplay. India are four wickets down and need 159 from 90 balls. Can they do it? #AUSvIND #CWC15

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) March 26, 2015"

Sadly for the Indian fans packed into the SCG, the task was about to get much more difficult. There wasn’t much of an appeal when Rahane seemed to play and miss at one from Mitchell Starc, but Australia rolled the dice on a review. As it transpired, the batsman got a tiny edge on the ball and he was dismissed for 44, leaving India in big, big trouble.

As the run-rate required crept upwards of two-a-ball, it became apparent that his wasn’t going to be India’s day. Eventually, they finished up all out 233, with Dhoni out for a valiant 65 and Faulkner blitzing through the lower order with some excellent death bowling.

For Australia, the dream to win a fifth World Cup remains alive, and the chance of securing the title in Melbourne at the expense of their great rivals represents a remarkable incentive for this crop of privileged players.

The two met in a thrilling occasion earlier in the competition, with the Black Caps coming out on top in a one-wicket win. But with a cacophony of Australian support set to tumble down from the MCG’s intimidating walls, the Baggy Greens will fancy their chances of avenging that loss in the most desirable way imaginable.