Steve Smith passed 50 for the fourth successive innings - and went on to score a century - as Australia beat India to setup an ICC Cricket World Cup Final against New Zealand.

The 25-year-old reached three figures in 89 balls as the hosts posted the current holders a victory target of 329 to win.

And although MS Dhoni continued his fine tradition of sterling performances in big World Cup matches, scoring a run-a-ball 65, India were eventually bowled out for 233 to lose by 95 runs. 

Australia won the toss and elected to bat at the Sydney Cricket Ground before Smith's 105 provided the mainstay of their 328-7.

Smith faced 93 balls, striking 11 fours and three sixes, while Aaron Finch scored 81 off 116 deliveries and Mitchell Johnson closed the innings by racing to an unbeaten 27 at a rate of three runs-a-ball.

Umesh Yadav was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-72 as India clawed their way back into the contest following the 182 run third-wicket stand, between Smith and Finch, that had previously placed Australia at 197-1 from 34 overs.

At one time the Aussies lost three wickets for 16 runs before Glenn Maxwell scored 23 off 14 balls, Shane Watson 28 off 30 and James Faulkner 21 off 12 to help recover the momentum late on in the 50 overs. 

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma controlled the initial exchanges of the run chase with an opening stand of 76 in 12.5 overs. However, once the early resistance was broken, India had no answer to Australia's pace quartet who shared eight wickets during the holders' subsequent collapse.

Dhawan picked out deep-cover off Hazlewood for 45, opening the hutch for a Johnson double-strike which saw him nick-off Virat Kohli for a single and clean bowl Sharma for 34 in successive overs.

Suresh Raina became the first of Faulkner's three victims when an attempted run to third-man finished up in the gloves of Brad Haddin and India were 108-4 after 23 overs.

A partnership of 70 between Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane hauled the Indians back into the contest before the latter was given out on referral for 44 after feathering Starc through to the keeper.

The pressure of the spiralling rate was, by then, starting to tell and the resultant run-outs of both Ravindra Jadeja for 16 and Dhoni - the result of direct hits by Smith and Maxwell respectively - ended the fixture as a contest.

Faulkner and Starc, who finished with impressive figures of 2-28 from 8.5 overs, wasted no time in mopping up the tail; India all out with 19 balls to go, ending their dream of back-to-back World Cup triumphs.

View the full match scorecard here

 

Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to watch England seek redemption against the Kiwis and secure your seat now.