So, we now know the identity of three of the four semi-finalists. Australia join India and South Africa in the last four - they were made to work hard by Pakistan but ultimately their superior batting and fielding won the day.

We still haven't had a truly close quarter-final, but that was certainly more thrilling than the first two. You can now read the match report from today's game on our website.

Join us tonight/tomorrow morning at 00:30 GMT, when co-hosts New Zealand take on West Indies for the final spot in the semis. See you then!

Pakistan bowler Wahab Riaz on Rahat Ali's dropped catch: "It was a crucial moment. We would have had Watson and a wicket to put more pressure on Australia.

"We watched how the Australia guys play and had a chat before the game and put plans in place. I knew Watson was not so good with short balls so I knew I had to attack. The plans were successful at times but unfortunately we could not win the game.

On pace bowler Mohammad Irfan, who missed the defeat through injury: "He is one of our great fast bowlers who leads the attack so not having him in this game was crucial. You cant do anything about it though and the other guys performed well. It is a game of nerves and unfortunately we were not able to win it."

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

What will India have learned from this game ahead of the semi-finals?

"Australia will be favourites, but when you bat against them, you've got to protect those wickets early on. Australia have not had to face teams with wickets in hand for the last 10 overs. But India will have noticed how Clarke got out. Third man and long leg will be on red alert for Warner, and you can always get Maxwell early. India are fielding much better than Pakistan can, and they'll have to take the chances that come their way."

Australia captain Michael Clarke: "I am extremely happy. It was a close game in the end our bowlers did a great job and we were strong in the field. Credit to Pakistan, and Riaz in particular, for the way they bowled. It was the fastest spell I've seen in a long time. You are under pressure the whole time and the way Watson hung in was fantastic. Smith was great today as well."

On India (Australia's opponents in the last four): "They are in good form and playing well. Dhoni is leading them well. We will aim to be at our best. Our top four needs to bat better than we did today but hopefully we will be on it."

Image source, Reuters

Scotty Reynolds: It goes to show how important to Australia it was to beat the rain and win against Scotland. SA would have beaten Aus tonight.

Ilyas Najib: Misbah and Afridi, thank you for all the wonderful memories, the tuk tuks and boom booms will be missed.

Aashish: Amazing how fine margins dictate the outcome of a cricket game, Pakistan's Herschelle Gibbs moment proving crucial.

Former West Indies batsman Brian Lara:, external It was a joy to watch Wahab Riaz bowling today. His stats will never reveal how great a spell of fast bowling that was from the Pakistani.

Image source, Getty Images

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq: "It is disappointing. We wanted to win and progress but Australia deserve it. They bowled well and when it came to batting they did that well too. At one stage 270 or 280 was on but we kept losing wickets."

On Wahab Riaz: "He bowled his heart out and was a different kind of bowler throughout this tournament. I have never seen a bowler bowling like that and if that catch had been taken who knows what could have happened?

On Pakistan's World Cup overall: "Losing the first two games and the way we came back and won four in a row was good. Overall the team did well in this tournament."

Former Australia pace bowler Glenn McGrath:, external Well played @CricketAus in winning their quarter-final over Pakistan. It was a lot tougher then the score suggests. Bring on the semi-final!!

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"We've got three semi-finalists who are three of the best teams in the tournament - if everything goes with the book, New Zealand will join them, as they're close to the top of their game. It's reassuring that we're getting the best teams there, and I hope we get some finishes in the 49th or the 50th over, not the 33rd or 34th. It's been an exciting tournament so far, but that would top it off."

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio icon.

More from coach Darren Lehmann on TMS, on Australia's team selection: "We felt Josh Hazlewood would offer more control with the new ball, Pat Cummins was unlucky as he got wickets against Scotland so we'll have to see what we go with in Sydney. Quarter-finals are always tough and Pakistan have some quality players, but our bowling and fielding was exceptional and that was what won us the game. We'll fly to Sydney, probably have a day off and then get back into training."

Australia coach Darren Lehmann on TMS: "An exciting game, they threw everything at us and that spell from Wahab Riaz was one of the best I've seen for a while. Credit to Watto for getting through it, he got a bit fortunate with the dropped catch, but the Smith-Watson partnership was probably the most crucial one in the game. Steve's had an excellent summer, he settled the team down and did the job."

Image source, Getty Images

So, a handsome margin of victory for Australia, even if the manner of the win wasn't always so comfortable. But in truth, Pakistan only very briefly threatened to defend that modest target.

A superb spell of hostile fast bowling from Wahab Riaz put Australia under pressure, but the dropped catch from Rahat Ali at 83-3 really was crucial. Had he taken it, Australia would have been really under the pump; but he missed it, and from then on, Australia's path to victory was a smooth one.

Of course, it was with the ball that Australia really won this game. Mitchell Starc was reliably superb with his pace and late swing, and Josh Hazlewood showed his value with four wickets in the third seamer role. Their battery of quicks will be key to their prospects in what looks a mouthwatering semi-final against an in-form India.

More from Josh Hazlewood on TMS: "We bowled well as a group, Starcy's been outstanding all tournament. We were pretty happy, the wicket was good and we tried to keep attacking and taking wickets. I was a bit nervous at different stages, but our fielding has been outstanding this tournament. Shane Watson's been outstanding, it was great for him to get through that hostile spell."

Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood, who took 4-35: "I've been bowling well all week so it was good to put it into a game. I was happy to get a game. The wicket was quite good so to keep them to 213 was ideal and the batsmen did well."

Image source, AP

So, the semi-final line-up now looks like this:

• Tuesday 24 March: New Zealand or West Indies v South Africa, Auckland (01:00 GMT)

• Thursday 26 March Australia v India, Sydney (03:30 GMT)

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Australia are the first team to reach the semi-finals seven times in World Cups. New Zealand may join them tomorrow with seven semi-final appearances."

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"You can't argue with that - 16.1 is an awful lot of overs to have left. It looks an absolute cakewalk, and in many ways it was, apart from that spell when Wahab Riaz had the Force with him - that was exceptional fast bowling but he didn't have enough support from the other bowlers or the fielders. It was terrific theatre, but the form book has triumphed again, with just a few hiccups along the way. If only Rahat Ali had held that catch."

Image source, Getty Images

Australia 216-4 from 33.5 overs won by six wickets

Batsmen: Watson 64, Maxwell 44

Fall of wickets: 15-1 (Finch 2), 49-2 (Warner 24), 59-3 (Clarke 8), 148-4 (Smith 65)

Bowling figures: Sohail Khan 7.5-0-57-1, Ehsan Adil 5-0-31-1, Rahat Ali 6-0-37-0, Riaz 9-0-54-2, Afridi 4-0-30-0, Haris Sohail 2-0-7-0

Pakistan 213 all out: Haris Sohail 41, Hazlewood 4-35, Starc 2-40, Maxwell 2-43

Pakistan won toss

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio icon.

Scorecard

Australia finish the job in style. Glenn Maxwell backs away and wallops one into the stands at backward point, then Watson hits the winning runs through the covers.

So Australia have survived a stern examination here, and they go through to the semi-finals to face India.

Image source, Getty Images

Rajan Gola: Maybe it was a tactical move for Pakistan players to drop catches to avoid looking at the eclipse.

Rakesh Pradhan: Fielding never was Pakistan's strong point. Can't think of a world class Pakistan fielder.