CENTURION - Australia captain Ricky Ponting says there will be no let-up in his side's ruthless World Cup campaign after they crushed Sri Lanka to guarantee a semifinal place.
A 96-run win over the 1996 champions lifted Australia's world record run of victories to 13 and gave them a place in
the last four with two Super Six matches still to play.
But Ponting said he still expected improvements.
"It doesn't affect anything," he said. "We'll just keep doing the same stuff we have been doing all along and the foot won't be coming off the accelerator.
"The great thing is that our team and the individuals in it always want to improve, whether it is in training or in a game. We'll still be working hard from here and even though we are in the semifinal it doesn't matter to us as the next game we play is the most important to us."
Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore, a former Australia test player himself, was hugely impressed.
"They gave us a bath," he said. "They are a strong, tough team playing with a lot of confidence.
"It doesn't matter if one or two get injured as someone else just pops up and blends in as if they have been playing all along."
The loss leaves Sri Lanka on 7.5 points, ahead of only Zimbabwe in the race for a semifinal place, and now with less margin for error. It means tonight's game against India at the Wanderers takes on major significance.
"We weren't very clever [against Australia]," said Whatmore. "After this result it is another test of character for our boys and the next one against India won't be easy either."
The Sri Lankans hope captain Sanath Jayasuriya will be able to play tonight. He has a hairline fracture of his left thumb and bruising to the left forearm.
-REUTERS
World Cup schedule
Points table
