CRICKET:Australia ruthlessly swept aside their closest challengers on the international stage to march relentlessly towards a fourth successive World Cup final.
Having easily beaten all opponents on their route to the last four, Australia were expected to be finally given a competitive test at the Beausejour Stadium.
But instead of being stretched by South Africa, the team nearest to them in the ICC world rankings, Australia simply romped to a seven wickets victory with 18.3 overs remaining despite losing Adam Gilchrist in the second over of their reply.
The comprehensive triumph extends their unbeaten World Cup run to a staggering 28 matches stretching back to the 1999 World Cup.
It would also have to go down as one of their easier outings during that unbeaten run as they broke the back of South Africa's challenge inside the first 10 overs of their innings when the Proteas slumped to 27 for five.
Deciding to bat first in an attempt to put Australia under pressure after winning the toss, South Africa's reputation as "chokers" returned to haunt them as their top order capitulated against the veteran seamer Glenn McGrath and the pace and hostility of Shaun Tait.
McGrath claimed two wickets off successive balls to take his tally for the tournament to 25 and eclipse the record number of wickets for a World Cup of 23 set by Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas four years ago.
Having watched the master at work, Tait delivered the best performance of his one-day international career to ensure South Africa were not able to fight back from their predicament.
Needing an early breakthrough to stand any chance of upsetting the odds, South Africa were given it with Langeveldt swinging the ball through Gilchrist's defences with his first delivery.
But by the time Nel struck seven overs later to remove Ponting - who had progressed almost without effort to 22 off 25 balls - when he was bowled playing across the line, Australia's winning momentum had been restored.
SOUTH AFRICA
G Smith b Bracken 2
A de Villiers c Gilchrist b Tait 15
J Kallis b McGrath 5
H Gibbs c Gilchrist b Tait 39
A Prince c Gilchrist b McGrath 0
M Boucher c Hayden b McGrath 0
J Kemp not out 49
A Hall c Gilchrist b Tait 3
S Pollock c & b Hogg 5
A Nel c Clarke b Tait 8
C Langeveldt b Watson 6
Extras (lb4, w13) 17
... -----
Total (43.5 overs) ... 149
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-12, 3-26, 4-27, 5-27, 6-87, 7-93, 8-103, 9-130.
Bowling: Bracken 7-2-15-1; McGrath 8-1-18-3; Tait 10-0-39-4; Watson 8.5-0-49-1; Hogg 10-2-24-1.
AUSTRALIA
AC Gilchrist b Langeveldt 1
ML Hayden nc Smith b Pollock 41
RT Ponting b Nel 22
MJ Clarke not out 60
M Symonds not out 18
Extras (5lb 3w 3nb) 11
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Total (3 wkts 31.3 overs) ... 153
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-44, 3-110.
Did Not Bat: M E K Hussey, S R Watson, G B Hogg, S W Tait, G D McGrath, N W Bracken.
Bowling: Pollock 5-1-16-1; Langeveldt 6-0-34-1; Kallis 5-1-20-0; Nel 7-1-31-1; Hall 6.3-0-43-0; Kemp 2 0 4 0
Australia won by 7 wkts
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