| MICHAEL Kasprowicz settled Australia's fast-bowling quandary for the Champions Trophy as Australia outclassed the US battlers last night.
After dismissing the Americans for 65, Australia cruised home by nine wickets with 42.1 overs to spare.
Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie each claimed four wickets to leave Brett Lee hoping for help from the weather to play in Thursday night's decisive clash with New Zealand at The Oval.
Lee played last night but only after morning rain in southern England prompted selectors to make a late change by leaving out left-arm spinner Brad Hogg.
Lee took the new ball downwind and claimed 1-21 from five overs before man-of-the-match Kasprowicz (4-14 from seven) and Jason Gillespie (4-15 from six) torched the outclassed Americans, who were all out in 24 overs.
It was the lowest total in Champions Trophy history, leaving the Australian batsmen with a simple task.
Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist set off in a hurry, with Hayden falling for 23 when he was caught behind by Mark Johnson off Howard Johnson with the score 41 in the fifth over. Gilchrist swept Rashid Zia for six over square leg to win the match against the weekend cricketers who play on matting.
The huge winning margin ensured Australia has the best net run rate in Group A. That could help it reach the semi-finals if the weather affects the match against the Kiwis.
The world champions could have played 11 specialist batsmen and clobbered the US, but the line-up at least revealed Australia's thinking ahead of the New Zealand showdown.
Unless the conditions worsen, Australia will launch a pace attack of Glenn McGrath, Gillespie and Kasprowicz at the Black Caps, leaving Lee on the sidelines following his comeback from ankle surgery.
Kasprowicz's form, including last week's 5-47 against Pakistan at Lord's, has been too good for selectors to ignore as they decide between the Queenslander and Lee for the final bowling spot.
Since returning to the one-day team almost 12 months ago, Kasprowicz has built a better strike rate than any bowler in the game.
- Herald Sun | |
