Australia cruise into semi-finals

Australia beat Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the Group F match in Cape Town, eliminating the latter from the tournament. Play and win

Openers Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist continued their prolific form to take Australia into the Twenty20 World Cup semifinals after a 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka at Newlands on Thursday.

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Needing a modest 102 for victory and qualification from Super Eight Group F, Hayden lashed 58 from 38 deliveries with seven fours and two sixes while Gilchrist remained unbeaten on 31 from just 25 balls.

It was the second century stand between the pair in the tournament following a 104 run partnership against Bangladesh and 78 against England. All three matches ended in victory.

Earlier, Stuart Clark and Brett Lee shared six quick wickets to send Sri Lanka spiralling to a dismal 101 all out in 19.3 overs after being sent in to bat by Australia captain Gilchrist.

Wickets fell in each of the first three overs and by the halfway point the innings was in disarray at 43-7 with Lee claiming 2-27 and Clark demolishing the middle order with 4-20 from his four overs.

Left arm seamer Nathan Bracken (2-14) was no less impressive than Lee and Clark while Michael Clarke led an outstanding fielding display, grabbing two catches including an outrageous one-handed effort to dismiss Farveez Maharoof.

The result eliminates Sri Lanka and guarantees that Pakistan join Australia in Saturday's semifinals.

Teams:

Australia: Adam Gilchrist (captain), Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark.

Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Jehan Mubarak, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga.