Damien Martyn has steered Australia safely into the Champions Trophy semi-finals with a commanding half-century in his side's six-wicket win against India on Sunday night.

Martyn anchored Australia's win as he did with his 78 against England eight days earlier, scoring an unbeaten 73 off 104 balls with eight fours.

Captain Ricky Ponting returned to form with 58, passing 20 for the first time in six innings.

Glenn McGrath lifted ahead of next month's Ashes with a brilliant display in taking 2-34 in India's 8-249.

Australia has qualified on top of Group A, earning a semi-final berth on Wednesday against Group-B's second-ranked team New Zealand at Mohali.

Australia's reply started with a bang as Adam Gilchrist (23) and Shane Watson put on a brisk 61 in 8.5 overs.

Watson, who was hospitalised during the week with severe gastritis and missed two days of training, suffered from leg cramp late in his innings and batted with Gilchrist as runner.

The all-rounder rewarded the faith of selectors to hand him the opening role, scoring 50 in his 50th game.

Queenslander Watson fell victim to a dubious lbw decision from West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor off the bowling of left-arm spinner Dinesh Mongia at 2-111 in the 16th over.

Ponting and Martyn batted with care against a three-pronged spin attack, putting on 74 for the third wicket, the third successive half-century stand of the innings.

Harbhajan Singh was a disappointment for India, with its frontline spinner finishing with 0-49.

Andrew Symonds contributed 20 from 24 balls and Michael Clarke, passed fit after battling tonsillitis mid-week, was two not out as Australia won with 4.2 overs remaining.

McGrath's effort included a glorious opening spell of 1-12 in six overs.

Returning to a new-ball role after two matches at first-change, McGrath had crowd favourite Tendulkar caught behind for 10 to break an opening stand of 46.

McGrath bowled with his trademark accuracy and gained plenty of bounce from the Mohali pitch, picking up the wicket of Irfan Pathan caught at deep square leg for 10 in the 49th over to sign off in style from his 10 overs.

Adam Gilchrist's neat catch to remove Tendulkar was the Australia wicketkeeper's 400th dismissal, becoming the first player in one-day international history to achieve the feat.

It was a night for landmarks, with Tendulkar playing in a world record-equalling 370th one-day international while skipper Rahul Dravid (52) became the eighth player to reach the 300-games milestone.

Aggressive opener Virender Sehwag carried the attack to Australia in the first half of the innings, blasting 65 off 90 balls.

Brett Lee (2-54) and Nathan Bracken (2-56) were Australia's other multiple wicket-takers although they proved expensive as did Watson (0-48) and spinner Andrew Symonds (0-19 off three overs).

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