Group A, Potchefstroom. Australia 170-2 (36 overs) beat Holland 122 all out (30.2 overs) by 75 runs (D/L method)
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Gillespie claimed the first wicket
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Australia's attack was in miserly form as the reigning champions brushed aside Holland in their rain-hit Group A clash.
Chasing an adjusted target of 198 runs in 36 overs, the Dutch side crumbled to 122 all out at Potchefstroom.
Andy Bichel and Ian Harvey claimed three wickets apiece as Australia made short work of the cricketing minnows.
Earlier, Damien Martyn hit an unbeaten 67 as the favourites finished with 170 for two in 36 rain-blighted overs before match officials calculated the revised Dutch target using the Duckworth/Lewis scoring method.
Persistent drizzle over the last couple days cost both sides 16 overs and, before the match, had groundsmen desperately struggling to dry the pitch in time, even resorting to using a helicopter.
It was important for us to get the points after the sort of
weather we had
Australia captain Ricky Ponting
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Opener Jimmy Maher (26) immediately signalled the reigning champions' intent by taking five runs from the first over but a damp outfield and keen fielding from their opponents restricted the rate of scoring.
Tim de Leede took both of Australia' s wickets as Maher was caught by Daan van Bunge at 52 for one and then Hayden (33) was picked out by Edgar Schiferli in the 23rd over.
Australia were interrupted twice with the players taken from the field at 109 for two
and then again three overs later before Martyn and Darren Lehmann (29) finished off the innings.
To restrict them to 170 for
two was a grand effort
Dutch captain Roland Lefebvre
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After just 10 minutes break, the Australians were out on the field, racing to the 25-over mark needed to constitute a match.
Paceman Jason Gillespie struck in the second over as Daan van Bunge's nick was easily caught for Man of the Match Martyn.
But it was spinners Lehmann and Andrew Symonds who piled through the overs, completing 15 in just 38 minutes before seamers Bichel and Harvey went on to claim impressive figures.
Bichel took three for 13, while Harvey notched up three for 25, sealing the win with the wicket of J J Esmeijer in the 31st over.
Australia: Jimmy Maher, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Michael Bevan, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Andrew Symonds, Ian Harvey, Andy Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath. (12th man: Brad Hogg)
Netherlands: Roland Lefebvre (capt), Luuk van Troost, Daan van Bunge, Feiko Kloppenburg, Tim de Leede, Henk Mol, Klaus van Noortwijk, Edgar Schiferli, Reinhout Scholte, Jeroen Smits, Bas Zuiderent.
Umpires: David Orchard (Rsa) and Peter Willey (Eng)
TV umpire: Aleem Dar (Pak)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri)
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