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Untitled Document
 World Cup: Aussies 'squash the Orange' to enter Super Eight
19th Mar 2007 09:12 IST
Agencies
Reigning champions Australia stormed into the Super Eight with a crushing 229-run win over the Netherlands in the World Cup Group 'A' one-dayer at Basseterre in St Kitts on Sunday.
After Brad Hodge smashed the Orange attack to post his maiden ODI century to propel Australia to a massive 358/5, the pacers routed the Dutch to 129 all out with nearly half their quota of overs remaining.
The margin was better than the 203-run win for Australia against Scotland in their opening match.
The victory meant the three-time champions are the first team to advance to the second stage of the World Cup where they will play the top two teams from the other three groups.
Before that, however, the Aussies will take on world number one South Africa in their last group engagement on March 25.
That result will not only decide who will top the group but also say which team takes the points into the next phase.
Australia have now 4 points after two wins from as many matches while South Africa have 2 points from the one match they have played so far, also against the Netherlands.
The Proteas take on Scotland, the fourth side in the group, on Tuesday.
Middle order batsman Hodge led the Aussie onslaught with a hurricane 123 off 89 balls and was well supported by Michael Clarke who carved out a stylish yet aggressive 93 not out.
Thirty-two-year-old Hodge smashed eight fours and seven sixes during his massive 184-run partnership with Clarke.
After Hodge fell in the 48th over, Clarke took on the baton to whack two sixes off the last over that cost the Dutch 24 runs in all.
Clarke moved from 80 to 93 from the last three balls he played against Peter Borren whom he hit over midwicket fence twice and then scampered for a single.
The last 10 overs produced 130 runs and there were 13 sixes overall in the Australian innings.
Borren suffered the brunt of the Aussie attack, conceding 1-89. Thirty-nine-year old medium-pacer Tim de Leede was the best bowler with 2/40 from 10 overs.
The Netherlands were off to a decent start when they put on 36 runs before Nathan Bracken (2/33) peg them back.
Daan van Bunge (33) and Leede (14) led a minor recovery before Brad Hogg (4/27) broke their 41-run association with the latter's scalp.
Glenn McGrath (2/33) improved his World Cup tally to 50 with the wickets of Bunge and skipper Luuk van Troost.
Earlier, electing to bat, Australia were given the perfect launchpad by Adam Gilchrist (57) and Matthew Hayden (29) who had a 73-run opening stand in less than 12 overs.
Gilchrist was in punishing mood as he belted 11 fours from 64 balls.
Hayden was his imposing self during the short time he was at the crease and whenever he swung the bat he had enough wood on the ball that even edges sailed over the ropes.
But his innings, that contained four fours and a six, came to an early end.
The fall of skipper Ricky Ponting (23) immediately Gilchrist's dismissal failed to slowdown the Aussie juggernaut as Clarke and Man of the Match Hodge got into action from word go. |
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