Sydney: Steve Smith continued his summer of runs against India with another century to help Australia reach 328-7 in Thursday's World Cup semifinal against the defending champions.
Smith scored 105 from 93 balls and shared a 182-run second-wicket stand with Aaron Finch (81) to get Australia away to a flying start before India rallied with Umesh Yadav (4-72) removing both of them and bowling James Faulkner to dry up the run flow and leave the match evenly poised.
"That's a good total, although we're going to have to bowl really well," Smith said. "For us it's going to be about squeezing and building the pressure."
After failing to win a competitive match in two months in Australia leading into the tournament, India won seven straight and was the only team to bowl out its opposition in every game leading into the semis.
Both teams retained the lineups from their quarterfinal wins, with Australia opting against bringing in specialist spinner Xavier Doherty into the starting XI despite the venue traditionally offering some turn.
It was Michael Clarke's automatic reaction to bat first after winning the toss, but Mohammed Shami showed that it could be difficult for the batsmen when he beat the edge twice in the first over against Finch and David Warner and bowled a maiden in his second.
But it was Yadav who got the first breakthrough at the start of the fourth over, getting a leading edge from Warner (12) and was easily caught by Virat Kohli with the total at 15.
Smith and Finch then combined and appeared to be taking the game away from India until Yadav struck again with the first ball of his second spell.
Smith, who scored centuries in all four matches against India in the recent test series, posted his 4th ODI hundred before mis-timing a shorter ball from Yadav in the 35th over, ending a 93-ball inning that contained 11 boundaries and two sixes.
Finch, who survived a loud appeal for lbw and a video review of the not out decision in the 23rd over, continued with Glenn Maxwell, who belted 23 from 13 balls before sweeping Ravi Ashwin straight to Ajinkya Rahane at deep square leg, triggering India's resurgence.
Yadav dismissed Finch in the next over and, as the runs dried up, Clarke (10) hit a Mohit Sharma delivery to Rohit Sharma, slowing the Australian strike rate right down again.
With the Indian fielding lifted considerably, Yadav returned to bowl James Faulkner in the 47th over as Australia slipped to 284-6. Shane Watson scored 28 before he was caught in the deep in the 48th over, giving Mohit Sharma his second wicket.
Mitchell Johnson stroked four boundaries and a six to finished unbeaten 27 from nine balls in a late cameo and Brad Haddin was not out on seven, ensuring Australia had a total to defend.
India has only beaten Australia once in an ODI at the SCG, and didn't score a win during a test and limited-overs series leading into the World Cup.
