Durban: You could reach out and touch the electricity in the air as a charged up Yuvraj Singh led an Indian resurgence to a comfortable 188 for five in 20 overs against Australia in the ICC World Twenty20 semifinal at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground here tonight. For the second time in five nights, he creamed the opposition attack to make a breezy half-century.

His knock of 70 off 30 deliveries (five fours and five sixes), coupled with spirited efforts by Robin Uthappa (34, 28 balls, one four, three sixes) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (36, 18 balls, four fours and a six) strengthened the dreams of thousands in the stadium and millions in the sub-continent – the juicy prospect of an India-Pakistan final in Johannesburg on Monday.

Before the start of the match, the question on top of everyone's mind was whether Yuvraj would be fit to play the game. The explosive left-hander had sat out of the match against South Africa with a sore elbow but he ruled himself fit to take on the Australians. And he engineered so much electricity in the atmosphere that the stadium lights could have been powered by that.

Yuvraj Singh walked in at the fall of Gautam Gambhir's wicket at 41 after the opener had made 24 but eight overs had already been played and Australia was on top of its game. He pulled the second ball he faced over square-leg and announced his intentions of leading an India fightback in a knock that reminded many of his innings against Australia in Nairobi back in 2000.

His clinical aggression negated the many dot balls that Uthappa was forced to play in his quest to ensure that India would not lose more wickets and come under additional pressure. India raced from 60 in the 10th over to finish with 188 – a whopping 128 runs in the second half of the innings. Yuvraj can take credit for giving direction to the 84-run stand with Uthappa.

Adam Gilchrist, leading the side in Ricky Ponting's absence, and Staurt Clark – man of the match in the team's sensational win over Sri Lanka a couple of days ago challenged Yuvraj with a strong leg-side. The Indian vice-captain picked up the gauntlet and creamed the pace bowler for 20 runs, including a pulled six over mid-wicket and two fours over the cover fielder.

Uthappa, who lived a charmed life at the start, settled down to hit three sixes, including two in succession off Mitchell Johnson before he was run out, Dhoni provided the thrust after Yuvraj Singh fell to a catch at mid-wicket when he attempted to hoist left-arm spinner Michael Clarke over the fielder but did not manage enough elevation.

Who would not love an India-Pakistan final to come at the climax of the fortnight-long tournament? Well, perhaps the Australians don't they have to chase 189 to secure victory to stop that. Can Australia chase 189 for victory, prove its credentials as the world's most feared team and sour that India-Pakistan dream?

Just 20 overs remain between a dream that few would have seen a couple of weeks ago and its actualisation. It may be tough even for Australia to bounce back from the thrashing that it received from Yuvraj Singh and company in the second half of the innings.

Australia Squad
Adam Gilchrist (Captain and wicket-keeper), Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Brad Hodge, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken.

India Squad
Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain and wicket-keeper), Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Joginder Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Rudra Pratap Singh, S Sreesanth

Officials
Chris Broad (match referee)
Asad Rauf and Mark Benson (umpires)
Billy Doctrove (third)
Tony Hill (fourth)

Durban: You could reach out and touch the electricity in the air as a charged up Yuvraj Singh led an Indian resurgence to a comfortable 188 for five in 20 overs against Australia in the ICC World Twenty20 semifinal at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground here tonight. For the second time in five nights, he creamed the opposition attack to make a breezy half-century.

His knock of 70 off 30 deliveries (five fours and five sixes), coupled with spirited efforts by Robin Uthappa (34, 28 balls, one four, three sixes) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (36, 18 balls, four fours and a six) strengthened the dreams of thousands in the stadium and millions in the sub-continent – the juicy prospect of an India-Pakistan final in Johannesburg on Monday.

Before the start of the match, the question on top of everyone's mind was whether Yuvraj would be fit to play the game. The explosive left-hander had sat out of the match against South Africa with a sore elbow but he ruled himself fit to take on the Australians. And he engineered so much electricity in the atmosphere that the stadium lights could have been powered by that.

Yuvraj Singh walked in at the fall of Gautam Gambhir's wicket at 41 after the opener had made 24 but eight overs had already been played and Australia was on top of its game. He pulled the second ball he faced over square-leg and announced his intentions of leading an India fightback in a knock that reminded many of his innings against Australia in Nairobi back in 2000.

His clinical aggression negated the many dot balls that Uthappa was forced to play in his quest to ensure that India would not lose more wickets and come under additional pressure. India raced from 60 in the 10th over to finish with 188 – a whopping 128 runs in the second half of the innings. Yuvraj can take credit for giving direction to the 84-run stand with Uthappa.

Adam Gilchrist, leading the side in Ricky Ponting's absence, and Staurt Clark – man of the match in the team's sensational win over Sri Lanka a couple of days ago challenged Yuvraj with a strong leg-side. The Indian vice-captain picked up the gauntlet and creamed the pace bowler for 20 runs, including a pulled six over mid-wicket and two fours over the cover fielder.

Uthappa, who lived a charmed life at the start, settled down to hit three sixes, including two in succession off Mitchell Johnson before he was run out, Dhoni provided the thrust after Yuvraj Singh fell to a catch at mid-wicket when he attempted to hoist left-arm spinner Michael Clarke over the fielder but did not manage enough elevation.

Who would not love an India-Pakistan final to come at the climax of the fortnight-long tournament? Well, perhaps the Australians don't they have to chase 189 to secure victory to stop that. Can Australia chase 189 for victory, prove its credentials as the world's most feared team and sour that India-Pakistan dream?

Just 20 overs remain between a dream that few would have seen a couple of weeks ago and its actualisation. It may be tough even for Australia to bounce back from the thrashing that it received from Yuvraj Singh and company in the second half of the innings.

Australia Squad
Adam Gilchrist (Captain and wicket-keeper), Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Brad Hodge, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken.

India Squad
Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain and wicket-keeper), Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Joginder Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Rudra Pratap Singh, S Sreesanth

Officials
Chris Broad (match referee)
Asad Rauf and Mark Benson (umpires)
Billy Doctrove (third)
Tony Hill (fourth)