Melbourne: Rohit Sharma timely hundred (137 off 126 balls) coupled with a quick-fire 65 off 57 balls from Suresh Raina helped india beat Bangladesh by a comprehensive margin of 109 runs in the quarterfinals of World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on Thursday. Now, India will meet either Pakistan or Australia in the semi-final on March 26.

Off to a good start after Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan added 75 runs for the first wicket, the fall off Dhwan (30) in the 17thover, followed by Virat Kohli (3) in the 18th over slowed India’s run rate. It got so sluggish that there were doubts whether a total of 250 would be reached and the departure of Ajinkya Rahane (19) in the 27th over nearly put India into more trouble.

However, Raina had different plans as he upped the ante and started taking the bowlers one by one. On the other end Rohit started crafting his innings with resolve and intelligence and later played some dazzling strokes that make him talent to watch. Once India reached 250, Bangladesh were in trouble and when Ravindra Jadeja played that cameo (23 off 10 deliveries) with Rohit on full song and took India’s total beyond 300, there was hardly any doubt about India’s win.

The Indian bowling has been exceptional all through the tournament and it was no different in the qaurters. Jadeja effecting an early run out of Imrul Kayes and Dhawan’s juggling effort on the fence that sent off the dangerous looking Mahmudullah put the Bangladeshis on a backfoot from the very start.Bangladesh never got in control of the match as they lost top four wickets within the 21st over with their total at 90 runs. Umesh Yadav was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets while Mohammed Shami and Jadeja took two wickets each.

Bangladesh were all out for 193 in 45 overs.