Scorecard | Graphical analysis | Highest victory margins
Australia completed a record-equalling 11th straight one-day international victory on Thursday, crushing Namibia by a record 256 runs to become the first team through to the World Cup Super Sixes.
The world champions' victory margin was the biggest in one-day international history, Glenn McGrath taking seven wickets for 15 runs to record the best ever World Cup bowling figures as Namibia were routed for 45 in just 14 overs.
Darren Lehmann earlier smashed a World Cup record 28 runs in the final over of Australia's innings to lift his side to a total of 301 for six, and Adam Gilchrist took six catches to equal the best haul by a wicketkeeper in one-day internationals.
The victory confirmed that Ricky Ponting's side would finish top of Group A with one match still to play against England on Sunday.
Lehmann's big-hitting brought him 50 from only 31 balls and inflicted on Rudi van Vuuren the fourth worst bowling figures in one-day history as he finished with no wicket for 92 runs from 10 overs.
Lehmann clubbed 4, 4, 4, 6, 4 and 6 from the over to take Australia past 300. His effort improved the previous World Cup best in an over, the 26 plundered by Brian Lara off Canada's Barry Seebaran earlier in the tournament.
When Namibia batted they were humiliated by McGrath, who eclipsed his previous best figures in one-day internationals, the five for 14 he captured against West Indies at the 1999 World Cup.
Only West Indies fast bowler Winston Davis, with seven for 51 against Australia at Headingley in 1983, had previously taken seven wickets in a World Cup innings.
McGrath and Brett Lee, who bowled at express pace throughout his spell, were irresistible, with only one player, Namibia captain Deon Kotze, reaching double figures as extras top-scored with 15.
Gilchrist held the final two catches of the innings off Andy Bichel's bowling to give him six.
Bichel had come into the side as a late replacement for Jason Gillespie who was rested as a precaution after suffering an injury to his right heel on Wednesday.
At least Namibia, in their first World Cup, had the small consolation of passing the previous lowest score in the World Cup, the 36 made by Canada against Sri Lanka earlier in the tournament.
Before Lehmann's carnage, Matthew Hayden (88) and Andrew Symonds (59) took the chance to get some time in the middle ahead of the next stage of the competition.
© 2024 Rediff.com -