Australia carries 2 points to Super 8

24/-3/2007

Australia beat South Africa by 83 runs in their final league match to top Group A at St Kitts on Saturday.

Chasing 378, South Africa was bowled out for 294 in 48 overs. Austrlia carry forward two points from this match in to the Super Eights round.


Australia started attacking cricket. Matthew Hayden blasted the fastest World Cup hundred as Australia posted an imposing 377 for six - the highest ever achieved by the defending champions and the third highest total in any World Cup. He was adjugded the Man of the Match.

Hayden and Adam Gilchrist gave a blasting start to Australia. They started attacking the South African bowling line up. Specillt Pollack was their target. Shaun Pollock ended up with figures of 83 runs from his 10 overs with no wicket.

Gilchrist was the first to go, who made 42. Hayden went on to score the fastest World Cup ton- off 66 deliveries. He made 101 from 68 balls and hit 14 boundaries and four sixes. Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke continued to built on the skyscraper, putting on 161 runs in the next 22 overs. Ponting hit eight fours and two sixes en route to his 91. Clarke followed him soon after - run out for 92 with seven boundaries and four sixes.


For south Africa, Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers started the chase at a frenetic pace. They put on 160 runs for the first wicket in 20 overs before De Villiers was run out by Watson for 92. De Villiers's 70-ball knock inlcuded 14 fours and two sixes. Smith suffered a round of cramps and was retired hurt for 72. Kallis also made some efforts. He made 48. South Africa made 294 in 48 overs.

Score : Australia 377/6 in 50 overs (Hyden 101, Ponting 91, Clarke 92, Hall 2/60, Kallis 1/66) South Africal 294/10 in 48 overs (Villers 92, Smith 74, Kallis 48, Hogg 3/61, Bracken 2/40, Tait 2/61)