India reaches World Cup semis

Rohit Sharma stroked an authoritative century and Umesh Yadav claimed four wickets to help defending champion India advance to the World Cup semifinals with a 109-run win over Bangladesh on Thursday.

Sharma scored 137 off just 126 balls with 14 boundaries and three sixes, sharing a 122 -run fourth-wicket partnership with Suresh Raina (65) to help India reach 302-6 after some tight Bangladesh bowling contained much of the innings.

While Bangladesh rarely appeared likely to win in reply, it produced a determined innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in its first World Cup quarterfinal.

Tamim Iqbal timed four boundaries in a run-a-ball 25 before being caught behind off Yadav (4-31). Fellow opener Imran Kayes was run out off the next ball for 5 and Bangladesh didn't recover momentum.

-SAPA