Australia smash NZ by 215 runs
Batsman Matthew Hayden claimed another World Cup mark as Australia cruised through to next week's semi-finals with a record 215-run win over New Zealand in their Super Eights clash in Grenada.
Hayden blasted 103 from 100 balls in Australia's 6-348. The Queensland opener joined Australian Mark Waugh and India's Saurav Ganguly as the only players to have scored three centuries in a single World Cup tournament.
Opener Peter Fulton top-scored for New Zealand with 62 before he was spinner Brad Hogg's fourth victim as New Zealand were bowled out for just 133 in 25.5 overs.
Hogg took 4-29 from 6.5 overs while paceman Shaun Tait grabbed 3-32.
The 215-run margin was the biggest World Cup win in a match between two Test-playing nations.
Australia head into Wednesday's semi-final at St Lucia against South Africa with a 27-game unbeaten run in World Cup games including 21 consecutive victories since the 1999 semi-final tie against South Africa.
Ricky Ponting won the toss and batted on a flat-looking pitch at Grenada National Stadium.
Ponting made 66 and Shane Watson smashed 65 not out from 32 balls.
Hayden regained his place as the leading runscorer in the tournament with 580 at an average of 108.
The Queenslander's 10th one-day international century included 10 fours and two sixes and followed his 101 against South Africa and 158 against West Indies.
It is Hayden's fifth century in 21 innings since the former Test world record-holder was dumped by selectors in favour of Watson as opener for the Champions Trophy in India in October.
Hayden, 35, only came back into the side for the tri-series against England and New Zealand in January because of Watson's hamstring injury.
After the loss of Adam Gilchrist for one, Hayden added 137 with Ponting, who is the tournament's second-leading runscorer with 480 at 80.
Hayden also shared a 72-run stand with Michael Clarke (49). The opener's punishing innings ended when he top-edged a straight drive and was caught and bowled by Scott Styris at 3-216 in the 33rd over.
Clarke was out three overs later, hitting James Franklin for two successive fours then letting one go which hit middle stump.
Andrew Symonds was caught at long-off for 11 and Mike Hussey, starved of opportunities in the series, had a solid hit-out scoring 37.
New Zealand went into the match without leading strike bowler Shane Bond, who had a stomach upset.
Bond's replacement Mark Gillespie had a tough time from Watson in particular and conceded 67 from six overs. Watson ended the innings with a six off Franklin (3-74 off eight overs).
In reply, New Zealand lost Stephen Fleming caught at slip off Shaun Tait's bowling for 12, although the ball appeared to hit his shoulder.
McGrath claimed Ross Taylor for three but New Zealand raced to 2-77 in 11 overs before Scott Styris (27) fell to McGrath, triggering a collapse of 8-56.
New Zealand play Sri Lanka in Tuesday's semi-final in Jamaica.
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