Aussies beat Kiwis at cricket

Symonds leads Aussies into last four
Friday September 17, 02:29 AM

LONDON (AFP) - Andrew Symonds blasted a quickfire 71 not out as Australia beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the ICC Champions Trophy here at The Oval.

The win puts Australia into Tueday's semi-finals of the only major competition in world cricket to have eluded them so far where they will play either old enemy England or Sri Lanka, who meet in Southampton on Friday.

Symonds hit four sixes and seven fours in a brutal display of hitting and Damien Martyn added 60 not out. The pair put on 100 for the fourth wicket to chase down the New Zealanders total of 198-9 with 12.4 overs to spare.

Symonds came in with Australia 99-3 and immediately took the game away from the underdogs bringing up his half-century from 40 balls whilst Martyn was slightly more circumspect reaching his fifty from 63 balls with eight boundaries.

But the foundations of the victory were laid by the Australian bowlers with Glenn McGrath and Michael Kasprowicz outstanding picking up 3-39 and 3-32 respectively...

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