Hayden hits quick fire ton as Aussies bludgeon Kiwi attack

St George's, Grenada, Apr 20 (UNI) Riding on Mathew Hayden's quick fire 100-ball 103, Australia piled up 348 for six in their 50 overs against New Zealand in their last Super Eight league match of the World Cup here today.

Playing in his 143rd ODI, Hayden sent the Kiwi bowlers on the leather hunt as he smashed two sixes and ten boundaries to score his 10th century and along with skipper Ricky Ponting frustrated bowler's efforts for another quick break through.

New Zealand decided to rest Shane Bond at the last minute and were made to pay a heavy price as the in-form Australians bludgeoned their attack.

Hayden and Ricky Ponting tore into the weakened attack to rattle up a 137-run partnership for the second wicket in just under 22 overs.

Ponting looked all set for another big score but slight lack of concentration did him in. Spinner Patel bowled full in length, on the off stump line and the Australian skipper moved down the track and tried to blast it but he miscued the shot and Ross Taylor, at midwicket, jumped up to take a superb catch.

The Australian captain, playing his 278th ODI scored 66 (70 balls and 7 fours) and this was his 62nd half century.

Effortless timing has been Aussie skipper's forte at this World Cup and only times he has been dismissed in the Caribbean, it has been more a case of Ponting giving his wicket away than a bowler earning it.

Michael Clarke then joined in the carnage as Hayden, slammed 10th one-day international century. However the opener who looked all set fell unexpectedly to Styris.

Hayden swung Styris across the line and ended up lobbing the ball high towards long on. The bowler ran back and lunged forward to take an amazing catch.

The opener and Clarke added 72 runs for the third wicket.

The Aussies lost two quick wickets after that with Michael Clarke being clean bowled by James Franklin for 49 (46 balls,7x4) and then Andrew Symonds was caught by Mason off Patel. He scored 11 runs(16 balls,1x4) Australian skipper won the toss and opted to bat, but the talking point was Bond's absence. The Kiwi spearhead has a particularly impressive record against Australia and in his absence Hayden and Ponting made merry after Adam Gilchrist fell early, with just seven runs on the board.

Later Watson celebrated his return after a long lay off by plundering an unbeaten 65 (32 balls, 4x4, 3x6) while Mike Hussey scored 37 and both put up 77 run sixth wicket partnership.

Stephen Fleming pressed all his resources into stopping the flood of runs, using as many as eight bowlers, but left-arm paceman James Franklin and Patel were the only ones to meet with any success as Australia built up up massive total.

Earlier, with Bond sidelined by vomiting and nausea and Jacob Oram sitting out with a sore heel, New Zealand opted to bring in Mark Gillespie and Michael Mason while Australia brought back all-rounder Shane Watson in place of middle-order batsman Brad Hodge.

Watson was injured early on in the tournament undone by a calf injury picked up in the Super Eights league game against Bangladesh in Antigua late last month.

UNI