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New Zealand were exposed as yet another pretender to Australia's cricket World Cup crown as they were crushed by a record margin in their Super Eights mismatch at the Grenada National Stadium here today.
Powerless to resist a complete performance from the two-time defending champions New Zealand crashed
to a massive 215-run defeat -- the heaviest in their 526-match ODI history.
The losing margin eclipsed the other lowlight of New Zealand's summer -- a 189-run capitulation to Sri Lanka on Eden Park in January, where they were rolled for an ignominious 73.
New Zealand's batting, despite opener Peter Fulton's 62, was equally impotent today against a bowling attack they flogged in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series two months ago.
The last eight wickets fell for just 56 runs inside 14 overs as Australia emphatically exacted revenge for their trans-Tasman series defeat.
Stephen Fleming's demise for 12 -- when he was given out caught off his shoulder by Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar -- encapsulated the Black Caps' slim chances of toppling the overwhelming Cup favourites though the signs were already grim after strike bowler Shane Bond was a late defection as he battled a severe bout of food poisoning.
With Jacob Oram (heel) already rested as a precautionary measure New Zealand's bowling attack was shorn of two key contributors.
Australia's batsmen were quick to take advantage as century maker Matthew Hayden (103), Ponting (66) and an unbeaten 65 -- off 32 balls -- from Shane Watson found the ropes with monotonous regularity.
Oram's unavailability allowed both Michael Mason and Mark Gillespie to press their claims for inclusion on the bouncier Sabina Park wicket next week, but neither could take the opportunity as Hayden plundered his third hundred of the tournament off 96 balls.
Mason was confined to fielding after conceding 27 off three overs with the new ball while Gillespie's nightmarish return from a shoulder injury continued as he was pasted for 67 off his six.
Hayden cracked 10 boundaries and two sixes while fellow Queenslander Watson unleashed a demoralising late over assault that saw 66 runs plundered from the last five overs.
New Zealand needed to replicate that aggressive approach and did post 100 in 106 balls -- though critically for the loss of five wickets.
Ross Taylor trailed an unhappy Fleming back to the pavilion for three after becoming another footnote in retirement-bound Glenn McGrath's career; Scott Styris (27) was also snapped up by the veteran and when Craig McMillan and James Franklin lasted just 14 balls between them the scene was set for abject humiliation at 89 for five.
Spinner Brad Hogg then effected a quick kill, claiming four for 29 off 6.5 overs.
That equated to Hogg's best haul at the World Cup and boosted his wicket tally to 19 though McGrath secured the more significant milestone.
When Taylor chipped out to Michael Hussey, McGrath claimed his 21st wicket in the Caribbean, making him the most successful bowler at a World Cup.
Compatriot Shane Warne and New Zealand left arm quick Geoff Allott jointly held the old mark of 20 set in England in 1999.
Hayden, who had already scored the fastest World Cup century (66 balls against South Africa) and 158 against the West Indies, was named man of the match from a contest that could have drastic repercussions should the trans-Tasman rivals meet again in the final in Barbados next Sunday (NZT).
Fleming understandably sought to down play the significance of the thumping.
"We're just going to wipe it off. If we start over analysing too much we won't be looking forward to what's coming up .... an opportunity to win two games and win the World Cup," he said.
Ponting, however, doubted New Zealand's players would not be affected by the drubbing should they meet again in the decider.
"If they don't think that's going to affect them at all, then how is any psychological edge ever gained in any game of cricket? If we don't take something out of today's game, nobody ever can. We've just beaten New Zealand by 215 runs in a World Cup game, so they've got a lot of thinking to do."
- NZPA