Australia thrash SA to reach final 

Current world champions Australia stormed into the final of the ICC World Cup on Wednesday with a seven-wicket victory over South Africa, who collapsed to 149 all out from 43.5 overs in the second semi-final after Graeme Smith had won the toss and elected to bat. It was the lowest total for South Africa who were on top of the one day rankings before the tournament began in a World Cup. Their previous lowest score was 184 in the upset loss to Bangladesh in the second-stage Super Eights this month. 

Pacemen Glenn McGrath and Shaun Tait did most of the damage, taking seven wickets between them. Glenn McGrath was adjudged man of the match. Australia, who are within sight of an unprecedented third consecutive world cup title, reached their target with 18.3 overs remaining. They have a record of 28 unbeaten World Cup matches since losing to Pakistan in the 1999 tournament. This is fourth consecutive World Cup final that features Australia who lost the first of those in 1996 to Sri Lanka. 

Faced with some excellent pace bowling from Tait and 37-year-old McGrath, who produced one of his best performances in the tournament so far, South Africa collapsed like a pack of cards. Only Herschelle Gibbs (39), fortunate to get a reprieve on four when he seemed to edge Tait to Gilchrist, and Justin Kemp (49 not out) offered some resistance fierce bowling attack. They added 60 for the sixth wicket. 

In reply Charl Langeveldt bowled Gilchrist for one with his first ball and had Ponting dropped on four by in his next over. The Australian captain made good use of the reprieve by reeling off a series of sumptuous drives before he was bowled by Andre Nel for 22 from 25 balls with five fours. 

Matthew Hayden scored 41 from 60 balls and Michael Clarke reached an unbeaten 60 from 86 balls with eight boundaries. Andrew Symonds (18 not out) struck the winning runs with a four through mid-wicket. 

"We lost a huge toss, but full credit to bowlers who executed the game plans very well," said Ponting. "McGrath has been in a great form and he's now the tournament's leading wicket-taker. It's a fantastic feeling and a good day for Australia. Our top order has done very well and I hope they do it again in the last match." 

South Africa captain Graeme Smith admitted his side had been comprehensively beaten. "We were beaten by a better side. We had our ups and downs in the tournament, but didn't play to our best today," he said. "Our top order did well in the tournament, but we were up against a quality bowling attack this time and could not do what we had aimed to do. With 149 on the board against a good batting side, it was always going to be tough."