Yuvraj Singh guides India past Ricky Ponting and into the semi-finals

India's Yuvraj Singh, left, shakes hands with Australia's captain Ricky Ponting after the Cricket World Cup quarter-final. Photograph: Aijaz Rahi/AP

It is rare for such an eagerly anticipated contest to live up to expectations. But this one did. A fast-fluctuating, red-blooded contest played out in front of a cacophonous and ultimately euphoric crowd, was won by India by five wickets with 14 balls to spare. This means that there is the small matter of a meeting between India and Pakistan in the semi-final in Mohali on Wednesday.

The Australians defended a total of 260 for six, thanks to a superb century from Ricky Ponting, and they protected it tenaciously right until the end. They were often quite brilliant in the field, hurling themselves across the turf and throwing their bodies on the line at every turn. On one occasion Brett Lee stopped the ball with his eyebrow.

But their pacemen, despite summoning up every last dreg of energy, were not quite disciplined enough on a sluggish track. Moreover, the lack of quality in their spin department was exposed. They did not lack spirit but they lacked subtlety. So for the first time since 1996 someone else will be world champions.

Perhaps it will be India, though there were moments when they looked as if they might buckle under the pressure. In the end it was Yuvraj Singh, currently in princely form, who guided the home side to victory.

As ever there were some wonderful, flamboyant off-side shots, though he also threatened to run out several of his partners along the way. He finished it all off alongside Suresh Raina, preferred to Yusuf Pathan for this game, which now looks an inspired selection.

This pair of left-handers joined forces on 187 for five with the game in the balance. They did not exactly undertake to "get 'em in singles". Singh peppered the off-side boundaries when Ponting recalled his pacemen; Raina launched a six off Brett Lee into the stands at mid-on and the game was just about up for the Australians.

Earlier in the Indian reply Sachin Tendulkar had batted exquisitely for 53, long enough to get everyone thinking about that 100th international century. Then he edged outside the off-stump and walked for the second match in a row. For a while he was detained while the umpires checked the validity of Shaun Tait's delivery. It was just legitimate.

Gautam Gambhir scrambled a 50 but betrayed Indian nerves when he was run-out. So did Virat Kohli when he hit a David Hussey full-toss to midwicket. Those nerves extended to the crowd when MS Dhoni was caught at cover point with 74 runs still needed, but Yuvraj and Raina soon cheered them up.

There was not so much to cheer for Ponting, despite his return to form, though he could be proud of the commitment of his team. He did not bat like a man contemplating the delights of carpet slippers, the occasional round of golf and the odd guest appearance on Channel Nine's equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing –they must have one.

He batted like great batsmen do on the big occasion: pragmatically. It did not matter to him how he got his runs. But he was damn well going to get them. He willed himself to a hundred, not because he was consumed by saving his career, but because there was a very important game to win. Australia have appeared in the final of every World Cup he has played in and he was determined that this sequence should not be broken.

Ponting came to the crease in the 10th over after Shane Watson was bowled by Ravi Ashwin, attempting to sweep. For a while he was content to bat in Brad Haddin's shadow. The wicketkeeper has an exquisite touch; there were three boundaries from Munaf Patel's first over, followed by a delicious late cut in a 57-ball half-century.

But once Haddin was caught at extra-cover, Ponting had to carry the innings on his shoulders. Neither Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey or Cameron White could settle, but Ponting remained positive while spurning any unnecessary risks. There were glimmers of genius, a six over extra cover and moments of good fortune – he might have been lbw to Harbhajan Singh

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