Australia storm into World Cup final

New Delhi: Australia stormed into their fourth straight World Cup final beating South Africa emphatically by seven wickets to set up a rematch of the 1996 World Cup final against Sri Lanka.

Opener Matthew Hayden scored 41 and Michael Clarke smashed 60 not out to lead the defending champions to victory with 18.3 overs to spare, after their bowlers bundled out South Africa out for a paltry 149 in the second semi-final at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia on Wednesday.

Demoralised after plummeting to their lowest ever World Cup total, the South African bowlers did manage to get an early breakthrough, when Charl Langeveldt bowled Adam Gilchrist with their score on one.

Ricky Ponting and opener Matthew Hayden ensured a smoother ride from then on, but Andre Nel removed the Aussie skipper with a yorker to bring the Proteas back in the game.

Meanwhile, Matthew Hayden continued with his stupendous form with the bat to complete 600 runs in the 2007 World Cup. He survived a scare when Ashwell Prince grounded a sharp chance that may have changed the course of the game.

The big Tasmanian opener struck four fluent boundaries in his 60-ball 41, splitting the South African fielders with his brute, yet elegant strokeplay.

Hayden fell to Shaun Pollock in the 25th over in what was a consolation wicket as the Aussies had already reached 110. The wicket may also have been Pollock’s last in a glittering ODI career, dwarfed only by Glenn McGrath’s.

Andrew Symonds, however, sealed victory for the Aussies as he slapped Andrew Hall for four with 18.3 overs in hand.

McGrath leads Aussie attack

Fast bowlers Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath and Shaun Tait shared eight wickets between them as the Proteas batting order completely collapsed barring Justin Kemp, who was left stranded on 49, after captain Graeme Smith won the toss and chose to take first strike.

Australia stamped their authority in the game early as fast bowlers Nathan Bracken and Glenn McGrath removed four South African batsmen with just 27 runs on the board.

Bracken bowled captain Graeme Smith for two in the third over of play, while veteran pacer McGrath cleaned up Jacques Kallis for five in the sixth over.

The leading wicket-taker in World Cups, McGrath then induced edges from Ashwell Prince and wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher, both for ducks, off successive balls to leave them reeling at 27 for four in the 10th over.

Herschelle Gibbs was given a let-off by umpire Steve Bucknor when an edge to the wicketkeeper went unnoticed.

Gibbs, however, fell to Tait after edging a delivery to Adam Gilchrist for 39 from 49 balls, leaving the South Africans six down for 87 in the 23rd over.

South Africa were further reduced to 103 for eight as all-rounders Andrew Hall and Shaun Pollock departed without making any impact, as the Proteas failed to re-ignite the memories of the tied 1999 World Cup semi-final.

Kemp kept the fight alive from his end, but last man Charl Langeveldt fell in the 44th over to Shane Watson, as Shaun Tait counted himself lucky after dropping Kemp minutes earlier.

Australia, undefeated and perhaps unchallenged in the tournament, fielded their strongest side in search for an unprecedented fourth World Cup title, while South Africa, too, remained unchanged for the clash, leaving out fast bowler Makhaya Ntini.

Australia now vie for cricket’s biggest prize on Saturday against 1996 world champions Sri Lanka, who beat New Zealand in the first semi-final on Tuesday.

Teams:

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince, Justin Kemp, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt.

Australia: Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (captain), Maichael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath.