Aussie make mincemeat of Kiwis; Crush NZ by 215 runs

St George's, Grenada, Apr 20 (UNI) Like a rampaging river, Aussie swept away hapless New Zealanders, crushing the Oceania rivals by a whopping 215-run margin in their last Super Eights match here today and, in the process, extending their winning streak in World Cups to 21 matches.

First riding on Matthew Hayden's third ton -- 100-ball 103 -- in the tournament, Australia piled up 348 for six in their 50 overs and then their bowlers went after Kiwis, blowing them away for just 133 25.5 overs.

Spinner Brad Hogg claimed four for 29 while Shaun Tait scalped three as New Zealanders, playing without Jacob Oram and express bowler Shane Bond, succumbed to their worst-ever World Cup defeat against the Aussies.

Only Peter Fulton (62) offered some resistance as eight of Kiwi batsmen failed to reach the double digit score.

With the win, Australia stay on the top of Super Eights league table with 14 points. They now face fourth placed South Africa in the second semi-final in St Lucia on April 25.

New Zealand, third with 10 points after today's defeat, will take on second-placed Sri Lanka in the first semi-final to be played in Jamaica on April 23.

Earlier, resting Bond and Oram at the last moment proved to New Zealand's undoing as Australia plundered runs galore after Ricky Ponting won the toss and decided to bat.

Playing in his 143rd ODI, Hayden sent the Kiwi bowlers on the leather hunt as he smashed two sixes and ten boundaries to score his 10th century and along with skipper Ponting frustrated bowler's efforts for another quick break through.

New Zealand decided to rest Shane Bond at the last minute and were made to pay a heavy price as the in-form Australians bludgeoned their attack.

Hayden and Ricky Ponting tore into the weakened attack to rattle up a 137-run partnership for the second wicket in just under 22 overs.

Ponting looked all set for another big score but slight lack of concentration did him in. Spinner Patel bowled full in length, on the off stump line and the Australian skipper moved down the track and tried to blast it but he miscued the shot and Ross Taylor, at midwicket, jumped up to take a superb catch.

The Australian captain, playing his 278th ODI scored 66 (70 balls and 7 fours) and this was his 62nd half century.

Effortless timing has been Aussie skipper's forte at this World Cup and only times he has been dismissed in the Caribbean, it has been more a case of Ponting giving his wicket away than a bowler earning it.

Michael Clarke then joined in the carnage as Hayden, slammed 10th one-day international century. However the opener who looked all set fell unexpectedly to Styris.

Hayden swung Styris across the line and ended up lobbing the ball high towards long on. The bowler ran back and lunged forward to take an amazing catch.

The opener and Clarke added 72 runs for the third wicket. The Aussies lost two quick wickets after that with Michael Clarke being clean bowled by James Franklin for 49 (46 balls,7x4) and then Andrew Symonds was caught by Mason off Patel. He scored 11 runs(16 balls,1x4).

Australian skipper won the toss and opted to bat, but the talking point was Bond's absence. The Kiwi spearhead has a particularly impressive record against Australia and in his absence Hayden and Ponting made merry after Adam Gilchrist fell early, with just seven runs on the board.

Later Watson celebrated his return after a long lay off by plundering an unbeaten 65 (32 balls, 4x4, 3x6) while Mike Hussey scored 37 and both put up 77 run sixth wicket partnership.

Stephen Fleming pressed all his resources into stopping the flood of runs, using as many as eight bowlers, but left-arm paceman James Franklin and Patel were the only ones to meet with any success as Australia built up up massive total.

Earlier, with Bond sidelined by vomiting and nausea and Jacob Oram sitting out with a sore heel, New Zealand opted to bring in Mark Gillespie and Michael Mason while Australia brought back all-rounder Shane Watson in place of middle-order batsman Brad Hodge.

Watson was injured early on in the tournament undone by a calf injury picked up in the Super Eights league game against Bangladesh in Antigua late last month.

UNI