Kolkata: Australia beat South Africa by three wickets in a tense chase of 213 on Thursday to set up a Cricket World Cup final against India.

Australia wobbled after Travis Head's 62 in Kolkata but Steve Smith (30), Mitchell Starc (38*), Pat Cummins (28*) and Josh Inglis (28) helped the five-time champions reach their target with 16 balls to spare and make their eighth final.

Aiden Markram bowled Warner, and Kagiso Rabada sent back Mitchell Marsh for a duck as Head, who was dropped on 40 and 57, looked to bat.

However, Australia were in trouble at 137-5 after Keshav Maharaj bowled Head and fellow spinner Tabraiz Shamsi struck twice in quick succession.

The left-arm wrist spinner trapped Marnus Labuschagne lbw for 18 and bowled Glenn Maxwell for one in his next over.

Earlier, Miller reached his ton off 115 balls as he smashed Australian skipper Pat Cummins for six over deep-wicket.

However, two balls later, Cummins was celebrating when he had Miller caught by Travis Head at deep square leg.

South Africa elected to bat first but were reduced to 24-4 before rain then interrupted play for 45 minutes with the total having moved on to 44-4.

Left-arm quick Starc sent back skipper Temba Bavuma for a fourth-ball duck in the first over and soon Hazlewood had the in-form Quinton de Kock caught for three.

The new-ball bowlers kept up the attack with the wickets of Aiden Markram (10) and Rassie van der Dussen (six) to reduce South Africa to 24-4 after the Proteas elected to bat under cloudy skies.

Heinrich Klaasen (10) and David Miller (10) had taken the score to 44-4 in the 14th over when rain sent the players off the field at Eden Gardens for around 45 minutes before action resumed.

Teams:

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood. AFP