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Team India has crossed a huge hurdle, beating Australia with India’s weakest area — fielding — becoming its strength, allowing the team to save 20-30 crucial runs, and this, along with consistent batting and bowling turned out to be the match winner for India.

Of course, Yuvraj was the star again and the batting line up also showed its strength but the inane run out of Gautam Gambhir was uncalled for. Even the bowlers have put curbs on the Aussies but Ricky Ponting managed to notch a century after being out of form for some time.

Overall, the day was India’s and Australia was beaten hands down in all departments of the game despite the match being almost a cliffhanger.

Team Australia wasn’t really consistent in its batting. Watson and Hadding opened and added 40 runs before Watson was bowled by Aswin for 25. Among the high scorers was Hadding at 53, who was caught by Raina and bowled by Yuvraj Singh.

It was Ponting who gave direction to the batting, scoring 104 of 172 balls before being caught by Zaheer Khan of Aswin’s bowling again.

From then on, the only other consistent batsman was Hussey, who notched 38 of 44 balls.

Among India’s bowlers, Zaheer, Yuvraj and Aswin managed two wickets each but Yuvraj was the most economical bowler, giving away 44 runs in his 10 overs. Well, Yuvraj has proved his critics wrong that he is getting old and is showing signs of inconsistency.

In fact, he is leading the race for the Man of the Series award at the World Cup with his all-round performance.

The Indian batting was consistent with master blaster Sachin Tendulkar (53 runs), Gambhir (50 runs) and Yuvraj (57 runs) scoring half centuries.

Even Suresh Raina pitched in with his 34 of 48 balls. In fact, it was the battle of nerves that helped India trump Australia. And, the crucial partnership of Yuvraj and Raina took India to victory.

But in Mohali on March 30, it will be a different ballgame altogether with India meeting arch rivals Pakistan. Despite being riddled by a litany of scams, the resilient Pakistan side is in top form now.

The team has not only beaten Australia by four wickets but won against West Indies by a whopping 10 wickets in the quarter finals. Pakistan’s batting as well as bowling line up look devastating and it is going to be a fierce battle in Mohali.

There is a couple of jinx though: Pakistan has never beaten India in a World Cup match and India has never beaten Pakistan in Mohali. Now, it is to be seen which of the two is broken.

India needs to show consistency again to beat its neighbour and reach the World Cup Cricket 2011 final.