Profiles / Editor / 20 April 2007 /

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has dismissed New Zealand counterpart Stephen Fleming's comments that his side will not have been damaged by Friday's humiliating defeat.

The Aussies extended their World Cup unbeaten run to 21 matches with a 215-run humbling of their rivals from across the Tasman Sea, as Matthew Hayden continued his good form with 103 from 100 deliveries.

There were also half-centuries from Ponting and the returning Shane Watson, while Brad Hogg took four wickets and Shaun Tait chipped in with three as the Black Caps were dismissed for just 133 in pursuit of 349 for victory.

The two sides could meet again in the final in Barbados on Saturday April 28 should Australia beat South Africa and the Kiwis move past Sri Lanka in their respective semi-finals.

Fleming feels that the defeat will have had no psychological affect on his team or how a potential re-match in the final might play out, but Ponting disagrees.

"I'd rather be in our (dressing) room than theirs, right at the moment," he said. "I'm sure they will be having all sorts of meetings over the next few days to talk about this game - we'll be having a beer tonight.

"If they don't think that's going to affect them at all, then how is any psychological edge ever gained in any game of cricket?

"If we don't take something out of this game, nobody ever can. We've just beaten New Zealand by 215 runs in a World Cup game - so they've got a lot of thinking to do."

The Aussies now face the Proteas on Wednesday in St Lucia and can be backed at 1.43 to eliminate Graeme Smith's men, with South Africa available at 3.2.

The Sri Lankans are the 1.73 favourites to win their encounter with the Kiwis on Tuesday with New Zealand available at 2.24.

The Aussies are now trading at 2 to win the World Cup, with South Africa on offer at 5.8, Sri Lanka available at 5.3 and New Zealand the outsiders at 6.6.

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