Australia defeated South Africa by seven wickets Wednesday to reach the final of the Cricket World Cup, setting up a replay of the 1996 championship match against Sri Lanka.
The two-time defending champions held the South Africans to a total score of 149, then topped that mark with 18.3 of their 50 overs left at Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia.
Australia celebrates a 7-wicket win in front of South African A.B. de Villiers.
(B.K.Bangash/Associated Press)
Australia's bowlers were so effective that the South Africans had a score of only 27 through five wickets before rallying to reach 149.
"It's a fantastic feeling. A great day for us today," Australian captain Ricky Ponting said. "Full credit to our bowlers; they did a terrific job early on.
"They executed everything really well and once they were five for 27, which says a lot about our bowling group. And the batters came out to do what they had to do later on."
Matthew Hayden scored 41, including four fours, for Australia and then Michael Clark had 60 as Australia reached its fourth consecutive final.
South Africa has played in three semifinals since 1992, but never has reached the final.
"It's been one of those tournaments for us," South African captain Graeme Smith said. "We've been a little bit up and down.
"At times, we haven't played our best cricket, but they've really given 100 per cent for South Africa."
Pace bowlers Shaun Tait and Glenn McGrath did most of the damage for Australia, with Tait claiming four wickets and McGrath capturing three.
McGrath is the leading World Cup wicket taker and will retire from one-day international cricket after Saturday's final in Barbados.
He already has retired from Test cricket.
McGrath, who has a World Cup-record total of 25 wickets at this tournament, said he had been helped by a strong breeze.
"It allowed me to swing the ball a bit and I haven't done that for a while," he said.
On Tuesday, Mahela Jayawardene scored 115 to lead Sri Lanka into the final with a 289-208 victory over New Zealand.
