Australia's Nathan Bracken celebrates taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya as umpire Billy Doctrove (left) of the West Indies indicates during their Cricket World Cup Super Eights match in St. George's in Grenada on April 16. - Reuters

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada (Reuters):

Australia dismissed the challenge of a deliberately weakened Sri Lanka side with ruthless ease yesterday to record a seven-wicket win in their penultimate World Cup Super Eights clash.

As both teams had already qualified for the semi-finals on April 24 and 25, Sri Lanka decided to rest their two leading bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan, while injured strike bowler Lasith Malinga was again omitted.

In their absence the world champions, set a modest 227 for victory, cruised to 232 for three from only 42.4 overs.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said before the game his unbeaten team hoped for a "hard, honest contest".

Instead, after the top Sri Lanka three had all returned to the pavilion before the score had reached 30, it needed a partnership of 140 between captain Mahela Jaywardene (72) and Chamara Silva (64) to take them to 226 all out from 49.4 overs.

Bracken, who consistently beat the bat, finished with the outstanding figures of four for 19 from 9.4 overs.

Adam Gilchrist (30) and Matthew Hayden (41) took 11 off Dilhara Fernando's opening over to set the tone for a run chase pursued with the Australians' customary efficiency.

Hayden lofted Farveez Maharoof for six over long-on and took another off Russel Arnold's first ball of the tournament.

Arnold, though, had the final say when Hayden mishit his fifth ball to Tillakaratne Dilshan at mid-wicket and in his next over Gilchrist, who was dropped by Arnold at short-cover on 10, was lbw to the off-spinner.

The pair's opening stand of 76 was their 25th of 50 or more in One-Day Internationals.

SYMONDS' FIFTY

Ponting passed 50 for the fourth time in the tournament with a chanceless innings featuring some delightful footwork and swift running between the wickets, finishing on 66 not out from 80 balls after hitting a six to win the match.

AndrewSymonds struck 63 from 71, hitting Sanath Jayasuriya over long-on for six in consecutive overs on his way to his first half-century of the tournament.

Sri Lanka play their final second-round match against Ireland on Wednesday, while Australia conclude their group stage fixtures against New Zealand two days later.