Cricket: Australia beats NZ by 215 runs

Australia once again underlined their supremacy as they overwhelmed trans-Tasman rivals and title contenders New Zealand by a whopping 215 runs in a cricket World Cup Super Eight encounter here.

After electing to bat, Ricky Ponting's men ruthlessly belted the Kiwi bowlers to amass 348 for six, and dismissed their opponents for 133 in 25.5 overs to script a convincing victory.

Stephen Fleming's team was hardly ever in the run-chase and succumbed to the wiles of the varied Australian attack to their heaviest one-day defeat.

Left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg claimed four wickets while speedster Shaun Tait took three with veteran Glenn McGrath helping himself to two scalps as Australia recorded their 21st consecutive World Cup win.