India swept three-time defending champions Australia out of the World Cup to set up a semi-final showdown against bitter rivals Pakistan despite Ricky Ponting scoring an inspirational century under immense pressure.
BLOG: Is it time for Ponting to go?
India's five-wicket triumph in Ahmedabad means they will tackle Pakistan, who reached the last four with a crushing 10-wicket win over the West Indies, in Mohali on March 30.
But Ponting was left battling to extend his nine-year reign as Australia one-day captain despite the 36-year-old hitting a composed 104 in his team's below-par 260 for 6.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Brad Haddin made 53 and the recalled David Hussey pitched in with an unbeaten 38 off 26 balls.
Yuvraj Singh then hit 57 not out -- his fourth fifty of a tournament where he is averaging over a hundred -- to see India home with 14 balls to spare.
Sachin Tendulkar missed his chance to clinch a landmark 100th international century but his 53 was crucial as was Gautam Gambhir's 50.
Ponting to continue despite World Cup exit
Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he would be continuing as an international cricketer despite the champions' exit from the World Cup at the hands of India on Thursday.
"What did I tell you the other day? Nothing's changed," said Ponting after the five-wicket defeat to the co-hosts in the quarter-finals.
Ponting, who made a century on Thursday, went into the match with serious question marks over his future.
Having presided over an Ashes defeat, his side have now been deposed as three-time defending World Cup champions.
The 36-year-old Ponting, who has also been under intense pressure for his controversial behaviour at the World Cup, denied Wednesday reports in Britain's Daily Mail he planned to retire from the international scene at the end of World Cup and finish his career at an English county.
"There's been some stuff written about me retiring after the World Cup. That's completely false," Ponting said.
"I've never even thought about or contemplated retiring at the end of this World Cup. I'm enjoying my cricket as much as ever. Whatever you've read, don't worry too much about that.
"You'll hopefully see me playing a lot in the next few years."
Pakistan crushed the West Indies
Pakistan, led from the front by inspirational captain Shahid Afridi, crushed the West Indies by 10 wickets in Dhaka on Wednesday to advance to their first semi-final since 1999.
Waqar said it will be "awesome" to take on India for a place in the final at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on April 2.
"There is no bigger rivalry in the game than that. We have not played each other in our own country in recent years," he said.
"So it should be very exciting. The two are cricket-loving countries."
West Indies coach Ottis Gibson threatened his senior players with the axe after their humiliating defeat.
"We are very very disappointed with our performance," the coach said. "It's a fact that our senior players have not performed. When the going got tough we did not stand up to it."
Star opener Chris Gayle managed just 170 runs in the tournament, Shivnarine Chanderpaul made 114, Ramnaresh Sarwan just 115 and big-hitter Kieron Pollard scored 180.
The third quarter-final will be between South Africa and New Zealand in Dhaka on Friday with Sri Lanka hosting England in Colombo on Saturday.
England all-rounder Michael Yardy quit the World Cup on Thursday suffering from depression.
The 30-year-old Sussex left-hander, who played in three matches at the tournament, said he felt he had no option but to return home.
He will be replaced by Adil Rashid.
