ICC World Cup 2015: India vs Australia - Dhoni and Co. need 329 for a spot in the final

Umesh Yadav of India celebrates with his team after taking the wicket of Aaron Finch of Australia during the 2015 Cricket World Cup Semi Final match between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on March 26, 2015 in Sydney, Australia.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Australia have scored 328/7 in their 50 overs against India at the SCG in the second semi-final of the World Cup. Steven Smith, coming in at No.3, top scored with 105 off just 93 balls. Umesh Yadav, although expensive, was the pick of the Indian bowlers; his figures read 9-0-72-4.

Despite losing opener David Warner to Yadav in the 4th over of the innings, Australia got off to a strong start – thanks to a massive 182-run partnership for the second wicket between Aaron Finch and Smith. Glenn Maxwell was promoted in the batting order after the fall of Smith, but his dismissal – caught at deep backward square off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin – sparked an unbelievable batting collapse. From 232-2 in 37.2 overs, they were reduced to 284-6 in 46.3 overs.

Mitchell Johnson, in at No. 9, however, was in no mood to give up. The fast bowler played a gem of a knock at the death, scoring 27* off just 13 balls to help his team set a target of 329 for the Men in Blue. He took a special liking to Shami and Mohit Sharma, who conceded 29 runs off the last two overs of the innings.

Given the start Australia had, they could have easily scored 375+ runs. Indian captain MS Dhoni would be happy that his bowlers managed to claw the opposition batsmen back. Can his team chase it down? Here is what the numbers indicate:

Only 1 team has chased 300 successfully in any ODI at the SCG: 334-8 Aus v Eng 2011. No team has chased 300 in a WC knockout game. #CWC15

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

Australia have featured in 6 WC semis and have never lost even one. India have featured in 5 WC semis - Won - 3 Lost - 2 #CWC15 #INDvAUS

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 26, 2015

Only 1 team has chased 300 successfully in any ODI at the SCG: 334-8 Aus v Eng 2011. No team has chased 300 in a WC knockout game. #CWC15

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

Only AUS have chased a score of 300 plus at the @scg. IND's highest score chasing on this ground is 299 - in a losing cause #CWC15 #INDvAUS

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 26, 2015

First time in this WC that India have failed to take 10 wickets. #cwc15

— Mazher Arshad (@cricket_U) March 26, 2015

Australia finish with 328/7 from their allotted 50 overs. No team has ever chased 300 or more in a World Cup semi-final. #CWC15 #INDvAUS

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 26, 2015

Simple enough equation for #IND. They'll have to pull off the greatest run chase in history to make the final. #CWC15 #AUSvIND

— Dileep Premachandran (@SpiceBoxofEarth) March 26, 2015