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Australia's chances of finishing on top of the standings at the Cricket World Cup have received a boost with a drubbing of New Zealand at Lord's.
After Usman Khawaja's watchful 88 and Alex Carey's 71 off 72 dragged Australia to 243, Australia's bowlers went about dismantling their rivals for the second straight game and had them all out for 157.
It ensured Australia can finish no lower than second and, with one game left before the semi-finals, controls its own destiny, despite second-placed India (currently three points back) having two games remaining before semis.
Saturday's game ended up reasonably comfortable for the green and gold, with the relatively low target never looking comfortable for the chasing Black Caps, as none of their batsmen managed to get out of first gear.
Openers Henry Nicholls (8 off 20) and Martin Guptill (20 off 43) fell to Jason Behrendorff (2-31), who was a big part of the reason the Black Caps struggled to stay above three runs per over for much of their chase.
That united New Zealand's most experienced campaigners, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, who went about steadying the ship.
They were together for just over 12 overs, during which time Aaron Finch tried almost every bowler in his arsenal, including himself, before Williamson lazily feathered Mitchell Starc (5-26) through to Carey for 40.
Clearly eager to boost the run rate, Taylor's dismissal was the most baffling, as he tried to hoist a straight full ball from Pat Cummins (1-14) over the leg side only to send it swirling into the sky, with Carey taking a tough chance once the ball finally came down.
Three balls later, Finch's bowling changes yielded more success when Steve Smith (1-6) had Colin de Grandhomme (0) caught in the deep off his first ball to leave New Zealand 5-118 — still 126 runs from victory in the 33rd over.
Smith remained the man for Australia when he took a spectacular catch three overs later, leaping to his right at mid-wicket to take a one-handed grab after Tom Latham (14) hit a full-blooded stroke off the bowling of Starc.
Next to get in on a genuine team bowling effort was Nathan Lyon (1-36), who claimed his first World Cup wicket when Jimmy Neesham (9) top-edged a sweep and Lyon took the caught-and-bowled opportunity.
The end was nigh, and Starc continued the avalanche of wickets when he trapped Ish Sodhi (5) LBW and was on a hat-trick after clean bowling Lockie Ferguson at the start of his next over.
He did not get the hat-trick, but completed a five-wicket haul when Mitchell Santner holed out for 12 to end the match.
Australia has benefited from strong top-order performances at this World Cup, but on this day was forced to test out the strength of its middle order.
Finch (16) fell early, trapped LBW by a Boult delivery that skidded a little and swung into him. David Warner (16) did not last much longer, done in by the extra pace and bounce of the first ball of Ferguson's spell and gloving a simple catch to Tom Latham behind the stumps.
Meanwhile, Guptill was having an interesting day in the field. He dropped a difficult chance from Finch early, then another more catchable attempt from Khawaja, before taking an absolute blinder at short fine leg to dismiss Steve Smith for just 5.
Marcus Stoinis bashed a few but was caught behind for 21, before Glenn Maxwell fell victim to an incredible caught and bowled by Neesham for 1.
At 5-92, Australia was in serious trouble. Fortunately for the green and gold, Khawaja and wicketkeeper Carey were on hand to dig them out.
While Khawaja's innings lacked momentum, Carey was on fire from the first ball. He batted with intent and class, and soon caught up to Khawaja as the pair passed half-centuries.
The stage was set for Australia to attack the final 10 overs with gusto, but instead the innings rather petered out.
Neither Carey or Khawaja could find a second gear, and the former's innings was ended when he meekly chipped a Williamson delivery to Guptill at cover on 71.
Then came Boult's moment in the sun. It was the last over, and with Australia desperate for any run it could eek out, Khawaja exposed his leg stump and lost it to a perfect yorker on 88.
Starc came to the crease and departed immediately, undone by a yorker of equal quality that slid through the defence and cannoned into the stumps.
Boult must have been confident when he saw Behrendorff arrive for the hat-trick ball, and he saw no reason to deviate from the formula for the decisive ball — Behrendorff may have reviewed the LBW decision, but there was no doubt that he had been caught dead in front by another excellent yorker.
Boult finished with 4-51, but his performance was in vain as his batsmen could not back up the bowling effort.
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Topics: sport, cricket, united-kingdom, england
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