Crickey World Cup: Ruthless Australia advance against Kiwis while Irish fall short

AUSTRALIA extended their World Cup winning run to 25 matches after ruthlessly exposing New Zealand's weaknesses, while co-hosts Bangladesh celebrated their first victory at the tournament as they eventually saw off brave Ireland.

Australia and New Zealand players wore black armbands in Nagpur out of respect for victims of the Christchurch earthquake. But defending champions Australia were as single-minded as ever on the field, sealing a victory that sent them clear at the top of Group A ahead of today's showdown between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

In Mirpur, Bangladesh got back on track after its opening defeat by India, delighting a noisy Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium with a 27-run win in Group B over the Irish.

For Australia, openers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin hit half-centuries, and began with a 133-run stand, as the four-time World Cup winner overhauled New Zealand's 206 all out with 16 full overs remaining for a seven-wicket win.

"You've got to be very, very happy with a result like that," Australia captain Ponting said as Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori conceded his team had failed to deal with the pressure exerted on it by the clinical Aussies.

Australia's fierce fast bowling trio figured large in the record-extending performance, combining to fire out eight of New Zealand's batsmen.

Mitchell Johnson's 4-33, Shaun Tait's 3-35 and Brett Lee's 1-29, backed up by a wicket each from Shane Watson and legspinner Steve Smith, kept Australia's astonishing winning streak alive at the World Cup. They last lost a game at the tournament in 1999.

The Black Caps' brittle top order - which left them 73-6 at one point - and lack of bowling options resulted in a one-sided affair, although New Zealand could be forgiven for a poor performance after the terrible events back home had likely left the squad distracted.

An all-round effort from Bangladesh proved just too much for Ireland in yesterday's second match, kickstarting the Bangladeshis' campaign. Opener Tamim Iqbal led off with 44 from 43 balls in the home team's 205 all out and Shafiul Islam had 4-21. Batsmen Raqibul Hasan (38) and Mushfiqur Rahim (36) and bowlers Shakib Al Hasan (2-28) and Mohammad Ashraful (2-42) also chipped in.

Shafiul claimed the last wicket as the Irish were dismissed for 178 in a low-scoring match.

Today, home fans in Sri Lanka will roar on their team in Colombo in a much-hyped match-up, stoked up further by Pakistan coach Waqar Younis.

Younis dismissed the threat of the 38-year-old Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the leading wicket-taker in tests and one-dayers. "I don't think we should worry about him that much, he is not 28 any more."

The comment is certain to fire up the Sri Lankans who have said they are playing for the retiring Muralitharan at this World Cup.