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Australia beat Scotland into cricket World Cup quarterfinal place

Xinhua, March 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Top-ranked Australia signaled its intent for a fourth ICC World Cup after decimating Scotland in their rain-interrupted group match in Hobart on Saturday.

Needing a win to avoid a quarterfinal clash with South Africa, Australia raced impending storms to restrict Scotland to 130 inside 26 overs, with Mitchell Starc, the tournament's leading wicket taker, cleaning up with 4/14.

Equally swift, the slogging David Warner and James Faulkner helped Australia chase down the runs within 15.2 overs with seven wickets in hand.

Australia remain on track for a semifinal battle against world No. 2 India but must travel first to Adelaide for their quarterfinal clash against the winner of Ireland and Pakistan, who play there on Sunday.

With left-handed trio Starc, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Johnson all firing deliveries in excess of 150 kilometers an hour, Scotland predictably crumbled. Four ducks and few scoring strokes forward of the bowler's crease typified the minnow nation's tournament where it has often been well out of its element.

Starc had Kyle Coetzer (0) caught at cover in the third over before he enticed Calum MacLeod (22) into a fatal cut shot that popped up to Warner at point.

Captain Preston Mommsen and Freddie Coleman added nothing to be the ninth and 10th ducks of Scotland's World Cup while tailender Rob Taylor also failed to score.

Only Matt Machan (40) offered resistance at the top of the order while a late partnership between bowlers John Davey and Michael Leask ensured the winless Scots could post a total beyond 100.

Cummins returned to the Australian line-up to take 3/42 while Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell shared the other three wickets.

With rain predicted for the night session and light showers having already delayed the back-end of Scotland's innings, Australia instructed its batsmen to bash and crash their way to a victory in the shortest time possible.

Australia's skipper, Clarke, opened alongside Aaron Finch (20 from 10 balls) while Shane Watson (24 from 23) was also pushed up the order for a last hit-out before the knockout stages.

As play resumed from a 90-minute rain delay following Clarke's dismissal for 47, new batsman David Warner smacked his first ball over the long-off boundary. Alongside fellow slogger James Faulkner, who thumped 16 from 6, Warner's savage 21 from 6 balls saw Australia clinch the victory and leave Scotland winless from three World Cups. Endi