South Africa choke, Australia advance to final
Gros Islet, April 26 (PTI): Australia stormed into their fourth successive World Cup final as South Africa failed to break the semifinal jinx and crashed to a 7-wicket loss here on Wednesday.
The South Africans lived up to the label of world cricket's chokers as they, electing to bat on a true wicket, suffered a spectacular top order collapse and were bowled out for a meagre 149.
Glenn McGrath's accuracy and Shaun Tait's blistering pace unhinged the South African batting which failed to recover after being reduced to 27 for five in the 10th over at Beausejour stadium.
McGrath kept up his prolific form to claim 3-18, putting him at the top of the tournament's bowling chart with tally of 25, while Tait overcame initial waywardness to return with 4-39.
Only Justin Kemp showed some resistance against the irrepressible Aussie bowlers, remaining unbeaten on 49.
Herschelle Gibbs (37) dared to take on the arch-rivals with some boldness and his 60-run stand with Kemp for the sixth wicket was the only phase of positivism shown by South Africans.
The reigning champions faced few hiccups while romping home with more than 18 overs to spare, extending their unbeaten run in the World Cup to 28 matches.
Matthew Hayden anchored with a watchful 41 and Michael Clarke providing the finishing touches with an unbeaten 60.
It was the third time that South Africa have faltered in the semifinals. A stupid rain rule proved to be their undoing in 1992 while a nail-biting tie, which brought them the chokers' tag, cost them a place in the final in 1999.
Australia, the only team to have won the title thrice, will take on Sri Lanka in Saturday's final, which will be a repeat of the 1996 summit clash.
South Africa had a nightmarish start when captain Graeme Smith (2) stepped out and tried to hit through the line against Nathan Bracken, only to be beaten by the swing and lose his off stump.
Jacques Kallis (5) attempted a similar shot against McGrath and suffered the same fate.
AB de Villiers (15) then tried to drive Tait and edged a simple catch to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.
McGrath then struck off successive deliveries to remove Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher.
Prince played a nervous slash at a wide delivery to be caught behind before Boucher gave a regulation catch to Matthew Hayden at first slip.
Within 10 overs, the Proteas had lost half their side for 27 runs.
Herschelle Gibbs (39) survived a caught behind appeal early in his innings and played some delectable shots off his pads against the Aussie seamers.
Gibbs hit six boundaries in his counter-attacking knock before falling to Tait.
Andrew Hall and Shaun Pollock returned to the pavilion in quick succession, leaving the innings in tatters at 103 for 8.
Andre Nel (8) then blocked 41 balls before Tait's extra bounce did him in.
Kemp, realising that he was running out of partners, decided to open his shoulder and tasted some success.
But the all-rounder was stranded one short of a well deserved half-century when Shane Watson bowled Charl Langeveldt.
The Aussies had a sober start, losing Adam Gilchrist for one in the second over.
Hayden and captain Ricky Ponting, however, had little trouble in negotiating the new ball.
Runs, though not at a frenetic pace, kept coming steadily through carefully struck boundaries.
Ponting was majestic with his trademark pull shots and Hayden exuded raw power in bludgeoning the seamers.
The South Africans had their second breakthrough off the last ball of the ninth over when Ponting played a reckless shot against a well directed yorker from Nel.
Ponting's 22 came from 25 balls with five fours.
Next over, Hayden punched a good length delivery on the front foot straight past Kallis. That four brought up the innings' 50 and also took the left-hander's aggregate for the tournament past the 600 mark.
Hayden finally fell while trying to hoist Pollock and ended up with a high catch to Smith at long off.
Clarke ensured there was no further slip up and guided the team home in the company of Andrew Symonds.
The right-hander hit eight aggressive boundaries in his 86-ball knock
